Join Our Team at KidsFirst

There’s something special about kindergarten – and there’s so many reasons why people continue to choose kindergarten as the place to make a career.

At Kidsfirst, we are all about the things that make kindergarten unique. We are passionate supporters of fully qualified, registered teachers as the best possible way to support our tamariki in their learning. Our environments reflect the kindergarten philosophy of learning through play and encourage tamariki to become kaitiaki and to develop a sense of belonging. Community and whānau participation remain at the heart of all we do, along with accessibility, inclusivity, our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our non-profit status.

As Kidsfirst has gone from strength-to-strength and its reputation as an employer has grown, positions within the network have become highly sought after too and there are so many reasons why:

We are kindergarten
Kindergarten is one of the longest established, yet most progressive, forms of early childhood education in New Zealand. With firm community roots and a not-for-profit status, the kindergarten focus is where it should be: on the children and families it exists for.

We’re proudly Kidsfirst
When you join the Kidsfirst family you join a network of educators with a fierce commitment to just one bottom line: excellence in early childhood education. We are not about making money for offshore investors or lining the pockets of corporate shareholders. Kidsfirst’s ‘profit’ is measured solely in the wealth of educational outcomes we build in the families and communities we work with.

Bicultural commitment
Our bicultural commitment is more than just a knowledge of te reo. In our kindergartens, every kaiako has an appreciation and understanding of Te Ao Māori, as well as learning opportunities that bring new knowledge to our tamariki. Our kaiako Māori group focuses on bringing Te reo Māori me ngā tikanga Māori to every aspect of our learning, teaching, and day-to-day practice.

Whānau and community connections
Participation is one of the hallmarks of kindergarten – we’re built on the generosity, contributions and involvement of generations of whānau, caregivers, supporters, and neighbours. We are at the heart of the communities we work in – right alongside the local school, doctor, midwife, library, and Plunket rooms. Because we have been around so long, we now welcome the children, and even grandchildren, of past tamariki.

Great learning spaces 
Our Kindergartens are well resourced, providing plenty of opportunities for tamariki to extend their learning, playing, and exploration. Our Big Backyards provide wide open spaces and living environments for tamariki to learn and practice kaitiakitanga all year round.

Kindergarten has evolved over the years, and Kidsfirst has taken the best of it to build a network with a rigorous focus on quality in teaching and learning, a values-led approach, and all the benefits that the scale of nearly 70 kindergartens brings.

Our administration and management teams aim to provide a foundation of support for our kaiako, kindergartens and communities which in turn enables them to grow, ensuring Kidsfirst remains strong for future generations to come.

Our Head Office staff know how to run a tight ship, we’re resourceful, well-organised and equally passionate about the sector we work in.

Becoming a Kidsfirst kaiako, kaiako matua, or kaiako rīwhi will stretch your professional horizons and expand your thinking. You are never alone – there is always a team around you, supporting you to deliver your best work.

Your qualifications mean something here
Kindergarten offers pay parity with primary teachers, but there are so many other reasons why this is a great place to be a teacher. Professional excellence has always been at the heart of Kidsfirst. Long before other early childhood education providers were required to, Kidsfirst employed only fully trained, registered teachers. But our commitment goes beyond qualifications. Passion and enthusiasm drives our people. They go the extra mile for the families they work with every day.

Collegial support and networking opportunities
As one of New Zealand’s largest and most respected early childhood education providers we offer unparalleled opportunities to build networks both within the teaching community and the wider early childhood sector, and unbeatable professional development opportunities and support. All backed by sound principles, solid values and proven methodology.

Professional leadership and development
Each Kidsfirst kindergarten is led by an experienced Head Teacher (Kaiako Matua). Every kindergarten team operates under a Professional Leader – an experienced senior teacher providing professional support to our teams in a variety of ways. The Professional Leaders themselves have seen it all before – and importantly, provide a connection point for Ako between all of the teams they work with. We recognise that keeping our teaching teams actively engaged in growing and nurturing their own careers is integral to providing quality learning outcomes for tamariki and their whānau. Many Kidsfirst kaiako continue with further study while they work. There’s also an advice and guidance programme to support our provisionally registered teachers to achieve full registration.

Flexibility but security, too
Kidsfirst offers excellent leave provisions and flexible work options, with opportunities to transfer within the network to ‘try something else’ all while having a permanent job protected.  With almost 70 kindergartens across three regions in every sort of community imaginable, we offer, hands-down, the widest range of career options of any South Island provider. There are opportunities to move within our kindergarten network, and also to expand your horizons into some stimulating head office positions and working party opportunities.

Whether you work in head office in one of our admin or management roles or teach in a kindergarten, all of our staff enjoy the challenges and opportunities Kidsfirst has to offer.