Mary Richmond Kindergarten

Welcome to Mary Richmond Kindergarten, located at 6 Lister Crescent, Napier, New Zealand. We are an establishment that is dedicated to providing a warm and welcoming environment for all children and their families. At our kindergarten, we offer wonderful educational opportunities for children aged two years and over. Additionally, we provide six-hour sessions four times a week for the twenty oldest children attending kindergarten.

In the event of an emergency evacuation, our designated destination is Kennedy Rd Overpass, and then on to Taradale Kindergarten at 9 Puketapu Rd, Taradale. We have provided route details for your convenience.

Our session times are from Monday to Friday, starting at 8:45 am and ending at 2:45 pm. We maintain a staff to child ratio of 1 teacher to 10 children, and we also have additional non-teaching support available.

Belonging, respect, and tuakana teina (mentor/peer relationship) are the values and guiding principles of the Mary Richmond Kindergarten community. These foundations support and foster our children's passion for learning. We empower children to embrace their cultural identity and heritage, promoting unity among all.

Our teachers work positively alongside children, building their knowledge and independence. They collaborate with parents and whānau (extended family) to engage them in their children's learning. We recognize and build upon the prior knowledge that children bring to their learning, creating an environment of respect where everyone feels comfortable.

Children at our kindergarten engage in a wide range of appropriate leadership opportunities. They demonstrate familiarity with the concept of expertise and take care of each other, respecting each other's contributions. Tuakana teina relationships strengthen leadership and compassion. Our kindergarten is characterized by children's strong sense of belonging and well-being.

We value Māori children and their whānau, ensuring that they feel valued and respected. We incorporate Te ao Māori (Māori world) throughout our environment and resources. Our teachers continuously work to strengthen the bi-cultural curriculum and Te Tiriti-based practices to enhance children's connection to their culture, language, and identity.

We are proud to have been featured in the ERO Review Report on Success for Māori Children in Early Childhood Services (May 2010), highlighting our commitment to Māori children's education. You can view the report on our website.

Allow us to introduce our dedicated staff: Tabatha Pryce, Helen van der Worth, Kathleen Graham, Liz Schimanski (HT), and Dorothy Pye (KSW).

Don't just take our word for it! One of our parents shared their experience: "I was recommended Mary Richmond by my sister, and it was the best decision! The teachers helped fulfill my son's interests in ocean animals, and he learned new words and sea creatures. His interest soon expanded to dinosaurs, and the teachers played a big role in assisting him to learn big words and identify various types of dinosaurs and animals at the age of 3. My daughter also attended, where she gained valuable life lessons and independence. They also learned valuable skills in caring for the planet and the ocean, and the kindy received their silver enviro medal while we attended. My children also learned their pepeha (Māori introduction) and more about Māori culture, which I am grateful for. Mary Richmond is a great kindergarten with the most warm and welcoming affectionate teachers that go above and beyond to make every day a special one. You can see and feel all of the love and care that is put into the children and their environment. This kindy truly is a hidden gem, and we had a wonderful time attending."

Our vision is that learning is child's play and teaching is a passion. Our mission is to create an enjoyable kindergarten experience that children and parents look forward to.

We invite you to explore our website for more information and to contact us for enrollment or any inquiries. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to Mary Richmond Kindergarten.