Saint Kentigern :: Curriculum

At Saint Kentigern Preschool, we work together with Saint Kentigern Boys’ School and Saint Kentigern Girls’ School to ensure that our children are well prepared for the next step in their learning journey and will continue to build on their passion for learning.

We ensure that the children have built a solid foundation of skills and knowledge so they can feel confident and be active participants in the classroom, manage themselves socially and emotionally, and take responsibility for themselves and others.

Our programme fosters curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of learning. Our teaching and learning are strongly influenced by a delicate interweaving between the Te Whariki early childhood curriculum, and Reggio Emilia-inspired ideas and practices.

Our aspiration is that all our children feel valued as meaningful contributors and their strengthening perception of themselves is shared and celebrated with the other children and teachers.

We want our children to be critical thinkers and to develop the confidence to negotiate and collaborate on shared investigative work together.

Einstein states: ‘Play is the highest form of research.’

These wise words resonate strongly with our Preschool culture. Our learning spaces are designed purposefully to respect and nurture children’s innate desire to learn during play. Through processes of playful research, opportunities are presented for problem solving, and an expansion of imaginative thinking around what they already know and what ‘could be’.

We believe that children are capable and competent, and have endless potential for guiding their own learning. Through listening to the children’s ideas, skilful observation, and the considered provision of thoughtful resources for the children to engage with throughout the day, our teachers can extend the children’s thinking.

EOTC ( Education Outside The Classroom)

Education Outside of the Classroom is an important aspect of learning and help children to develop an understanding of the world around them. Many opportunities are presented throughout the year and are usually related to projects that they are engaged in at the time.

From time to time we arrange excursions out of the Preschool as part of your child’s experience.

These are varied each year and may include a trip to the zoo, a musical show, Stardome, the museum, or other venues, occasions and opportunities as they arise that relate to our learning and programme.

Whatever the destination, these always cause great excitement for the children and provide many new learning opportunities.

Parents and family members are encouraged to be part of the outing to support the staff in the care of the children away from the centre.