At Edna McCulloch Kindergarten we prioritise well-being, respect, and inclusivity. Our curriculum is responsive, flexible, and slow-paced, fostering a calm environment. We promote mana, responsibility and fairness, while nurturing a connection to the environment as kaitiaki. Through kaiako leading with respect and wonder, we empower tamariki to explore and thrive with agency.

Our environment provides opportunities for exploring and collaborating with friends through play, and our gardening experiences enhance children’s practice of kaitiakitanga. The kindergarten’s outdoor environment is spacious and offers a variety of physical challenges. Our native trees and bushes welcome birds and insects and the sandpit with a view of Ōamaru Harbour connects us to our local moana.

Whanaungatanga and the building of trusting, reciprocal relationships with each other and our whānau is really important to us. We encourage and support resilient learners who embrace challenges, lead their own learning, and build an “I can” mindset. Our curriculum is rich in learning experiences, with a wide range of planned and spontaneous opportunities for growth and development. These include loose parts, construction, block building, family play, dinosaurs, creative design, dramatic play/dress up, puzzles, and carpentry, just to name a few. Numeracy, science, music, the arts, and physical exploration are woven into busy days of learning.

We have our own kindergarten treaty, written from the ideas of our tamariki. These values make it a fun, safe and happy place to play and learn. We are a culturally diverse community and we value the individuality of each child and family.