MacFarlane Park

19 Acheson Ave, Shirley, Christchurch
Mobile: 027 550 8407
8:30am to 2:30pm,
Monday to Friday.
2 years to school age

You’ll find our kindergarten next to Macfarlane Park in Mairehau, nestled between the Shirley hub/cafe and Macfarlane Park community centre – right in the heart of our community.  Ngā kaiako (teachers) here at Kidsfirst Kindergartens McFarlane Park are responsive to the interests, strengths and capabilities of all children aged 2 – 5 years,  fostering supportive and inclusive relationships to help and support our tamariki succeed with their learning. Here, children are celebrated and affirmed for who they are and what they bring to their learning.

Our teaching team

Rebecca Herbert
Head Teacher
Bachelor of Education
Kat Gray
Teacher
Bachelor of Education
Diploma of Teaching (ECE)
Sharon De Mol
Teacher
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (ECE)

Indoors, Kidsfirst Kindergartens MacFarlane Park has a homelike feel, where children can access a range of resources that are carefully and intentionally presented to evoke thinking and exploration.  Learning occurs in all spaces at the child’s pace.   Tamariki are encouraged to be mindful of, and in awe of the world around them, and respectful of the environment they play and learn in. We all enjoy exploring together, discovery is a huge part of what we do here every day. 

 

You’ll find our tamariki, whānau and kaiako actively involved in rich learning experiences both in our kindergarten environment and out in the wider community. Our big backyard is an expansive, well-developed playground which has space for tamariki to actively explore and challenge themselves – even when it rains because this is when the best learning happens! We're keen gardeners in our big back yard, and we visit our community garden every week.

Our skilled and experienced teaching team is proud to provide a programme where we foster a strong sense of belonging by encouraging children to show Manaakitanga - caring for each other, and Kaitiakitanga - caring for our environment.  We encourage our tamariki to be self-directing, creating their own challenges and being supported to achieve these. We give things a go at kindergarten because there is a big world to discover.

 

Te Ao Māori is seen and felt in all aspects of our kindergarten programme.  Our teachers place a strong focus on fostering a sense of Whanaungatanga (family, relationships, history, traditions) and Ūkaipōtanga (belonging and connection) - warmly welcoming and supporting children, parents and whānau.  We value our parents’ voice, views and contributions to their children’s learning at the kindergarten.

 

You're always welcome here! At McFarlane Park Kindergarten we have strong connections with our families, and whānau are always welcome to have a cup of tea, come and play and spend time with their tamariki.  We feel very lucky that we have whānau and visitors who regularly spend time with us to bake, read, bike, create and share their knowledge and skills - all enriching our programme.

 

We have many community events and celebrations - knowing and caring for people in our community is important to us and they in return care for us and our kindergarten.  You’ll often see us out and about in our hi-vis vests, exploring our community and helping the children to make sense of their place in it.

 

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

 

Nau mai, tauti mai -come in any time, we’ll show you around and 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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