Matapihi Kindergarten

About

Our centre is located a few minutes drive from beautiful Raglan. Set in 8 acres of trees, native bush, lawns and our own mini lake Matapihi is an ideal location for a quality Kindergarten. The centre is for children aged 3 to 5 years.

Story

Our centre is located at 390 Te Mata Road a few minutes drive from beautiful Raglan. Set in 8 acres of trees, native bush, lawns and our own mini lake Matapihi is an ideal location for a quality Kindergarten.

We are licensed to take up to 30 children, but have space which far exceeds the requirement for that number. We have designed Matapihi as a space where children can grow and learn at their own pace with plenty of challenges to keep them active and involved.

The centre is for children aged 3 to 5 years and provides a safe, beautiful, rural environment with lots of room to run around.

matapihi [1] [Noun] young, plant or person
I te tutahi, he matapihi te katoa, na ka tupu. Firstly, everything is small and young and then there is growth.

matapihi [2] [Noun] window
He maha ngä matapihi o te whare nei. This house has many windows.

Mission

Our centre's programme is based on “Negotiated Curriculum”, which is a curriculum organised in response to the knowledge, interests, skills and dispositions of all the members of our centre community. The direction of learning is negotiated as each activity progresses. The teachers may make guesses as to where a topic will lead and prepare material accordingly, but they stay flexible so that enthusiasm and interest remains high. Children are encouraged to learn about the world and how it works through active exploration and interaction with others.

We implement the Principles and Aims of Te Whaariki throughout our curriculum. Our programme therefore reflects the holistic way children learn and the reciprocal relationships between the child, people and the learning environment. We involve parents, whaanau and the wider community as we endeavour to empower children to develop into capable and competent learners.

The staff will include the Maori language and beliefs in meaningful ways in the programme to uphold the principles and the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi.