Belfast

672 Main North Rd, Belfast, Christchurch
Mobile: 021 758 980
8:30am to 2:30pm,
Monday to Friday.
2 years to school age

You’ll find our kindergarten just past Belfast School, down the long driveway - nestled into Sheldon Park and attached to the Belfast School grounds. There’s lots of parking for easy access.

Our teaching team

Justine Martin-McKenzie
Head Teacher
Bachelor of Education
Diploma of Teaching (ECE)
Master of Teaching and Learning
Jill Johnson
Teacher
Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (ECE)
Abbie Harding
Teacher
Bachelor of Teaching and Learning
Alissa Jardine
Teacher
Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (ECE)
Post Graduate Diploma Health Sciences (Early Intervention)

Our beautiful big backyard is is a place for exploring, making discoveries, and creating a sense of wonderment and awe. It’s a natural setting that encourages risk-taking, physical activity and allows tamariki to set their own challenges in a fun and collaborative space.  We encourage and teach our children to look after their environment and to be kaitiaki (guardians) of Papatuānūku.

Kidsfirst Belfast is all about empowering children to learn through relationships, which build confident, respectful and connected ākonga (learners).  We aspire for children to be explorers, keen inquirers and creative thinkers, preparing them for a world which requires these attributes.

 

Our environment and teaching is tailored to encourage these aspirations, on any day at Belfast Kindergarten you might see the following:

  • Open ended resources or loose parts such as tyres, sticks, ropes etc. This is for imaginative creative play as children can use these as they wish - making boats, train tracks, castles.
  • Clear tables. This is to encourage the children to choose their own activities from a wide array of available resources, encouraging them to be self-directed learners.
  • Regular visits to Styx Mill Reserve, where we spend part of our day engaged in imaginative play, investigation, physical activities and risk taking.   

We encourage our children to be Rangatira (leaders) and to take responsibility for their overall well-being and learning.  By encouraging independence, children build up a sense of themselves as confident and competent, supporting lifelong learning.

 

You're always welcome here. Whānau are welcome to stay at any time and take part in your child’s kindergarten day, sharing your skills and culture too - children learn the most when teachers and whānau work together. Community and connectedness is at the heart of what we do, making new connections, embracing the multiculturalism and diversity of our community.  

 

We have a very strong connection with Belfast school and we often share in their learning and activities. The oldest children visit the school regularly when they are nearing school age, helping to develop a strong relationship and a seamless transition to school for the children.

 

We would recommend that you enrol initially for at least two full days.  This gives our teachers time to get to know your child and gives consistency around supporting their learning.  

Parekareka te tuku timata! 

Let the fun begin!

 

Nau mai, Tauti mai -come in and see us at Kidsfirst Belfast any time, we’ll make you welcome!

From time to time we have special offers, to enable more children to come to our not-for-profit, community kindergarten. But hurry, spaces are limited and these offers only apply for a limited time. Conditions apply.

 

 

 

 

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