Find Our Kindergarten
121 Shillingford Boulevard
Rolleston
New Zealand
Why Choose Us
Your child will thrive in an environment rich in natural resources and meaningful experiences that spark curiosity and foster a love of learning. Each child’s learning journey is unique, with plenty of time and space for making their own choices and discoveries. Through these daily opportunities for exploration, tamariki develop confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills that lay the foundation for lifelong learning.
In our spacious Big Backyard, tamariki embrace adventure and discovery through climbing, building, and creative play. This natural outdoor environment fosters kaitiakitanga – teaching our tamariki to be guardians of the environment as they learn, play, and explore. The Big Backyard becomes a place of wonder where tamariki can test their physical abilities, learn about the natural world and develop important social skills through collaborative outdoor play.
Children’s curiosity flourishes as they engage with both structured and open-ended activities throughout their day. Whether working independently or collaborating with peers, each child is supported to develop at their own pace, building the skills and confidence they need for future learning. Social skills blossom as tamariki learn to communicate, share ideas and work together in both small and large group settings.
Nau mai, tauti mai – make a time to visit us and remember, you’re always welcome at Kidsfirst.
Why Kidsfirst Kindergartens
With over 100 years of proud legacy, Kidsfirst Kindergartens is a not-for-profit organisation that supports and leads kindergartens across Canterbury, the West Coast and Central Otago. Generations of South Island tamariki and whānau have passed through our gates, and we have strong ties to local communities.
Our kindergartens are down to earth places with warm, nurturing teachers with a rich range of resources and environments to explore.
One of the hallmarks of our kindys is that you’re always welcome here – whānau are encouraged to visit and stay, and take part in kindergarten life. We love it when families share their skills, and culture too – our kindergartens are some of the most diverse learning environments around, and children learn best when teachers and whānau work together.
Te Whāriki, the New Zealand Curriculum, guides our teaching and learning programmes, while the kindergarten philosophy underpins all we do. Tamariki learn through play in their own time, through their own interests, guided by trained teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council of New Zealand. You’ll often find our kindergartens located on, or near, local primary schools. Preparation for school and a smooth transition are a key part of the work for our kaiako.
Our kaiako are overseen by Professional Leaders with a focus on quality and ensuring the highest educational standards. Formerly known as the Canterbury Westland Free Kindergarten Association, Kidsfirst – and its kindergartens – consistently receive strong reports from the Education Review Office. You can read more about their assessment of our governing organisation here.
Latest News
Tamariki celebrate Irish way
Tamariki arrived at Kidsfirst East Rolleston dressed in a whole range of green for St Patrick’s Day yesterday. There was lots of fun trying on wigs, making green pikelets, and getting stuck into green messy play. The children also hunted for some cheeky leprechauns who were hiding in the kindy’s Big Backyard ☘️🇮🇪 what an awesome way to celebrate.
Visit from a motorsport champ
Fun, learning and excitement are a given at kindy, and there’s nothing more exciting for tamariki than the chance to sit in the driver’s seat of a special vehicle. Kidsfirst East Rolleston took it to the next level when champion midget race car driver, Jeremy Webb Motorsport, came to kindy. Everybody wanted to take turns in the driver’s seat, while Jeremy patiently answered all the important questions, including “where does the petrol go?” and “what does THIS button do?”. Our thanks to Jeremy and all the special people who make te ao kindy the magical place it is 🏁🏆
Diwali celebrations for all
Here’s a look back at Diwali as we kick off the week, thanks to Kidsfirst East Rolleston. The festival brought some great whanaungatanga, with families who couldn’t be there joining by video call and loads of celebratory kindy activity
Having fun with messy play
It’s hard to believe it’s the start of Term 4 already, and with all of our kindys open again, there’s a world of excitement, fun, and laughter across our regions. At Kidsfirst East Rolleston, tamariki have been following their curiosity to learn, explore, and wonder through baking, messy play, and gardening, to name a few. Ka rawe, Kidsfirst East Rolleston, what a great start to the term 😊☀️❤️
Lighting up with Diwali
Happy Diwali! It’s a season just made for kindergarten, with so many bright colours, so much to learn through food, music and art, and so much to experience. We’re always grateful to the whānau who come along to share their knowledge and help bring the season to life. This year’s Diwali celebrations at Kidsfirst East Rolleston had it all, and was a dazzling reflection of the diversity that makes Kidsfirst and Aotearoa so special 🌍🌈
Welcome to our newest kindy
It was a special day for our newest kindergarten, Kidsfirst East Rolleston, yesterday, as well as the wider Kidsfirst community, as Selwyn District Mayor, Sam Broughton, welcomed the kindy to the region. The Mayor spoke about the important role kindergarten plays for families and the community, as well as tamariki, who were the stars of the show with waiata, and greetings in te reo, English, and NZSL. Thank you to the Rolleston community for a warm welcome – he rā whakanui tēnei – this was a day to celebrate, and we look forward to the contributions our 68th kindergarten will make to quality early childhood education, and the Kidsfirst family ❤️
New kindergarten officially blessed
It was a very special weekend at Kidsfirst East Rolleston, our newest kindergarten, with an official blessing by Te Taumutu Rūnanga kaumātua, Denise Sheat. Many of those involved in the development of the kindergarten were there to celebrate and bring their wairua to the building. Our thanks to Portacom New Zealand, Hann Construction, Mark Larsen of Mark Larsen Art, Compass Playgrounds, Miller Fencing, and everyone else whose hard mahi got us to this day. He whānau kotahi tatou – at Kidsfirst, we are all one big family. We’re looking forward to the official opening in Term 2, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our families and the wider community.
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A proudly New Zealand owned and operated not-for-profit kindergarten association with over 110 years of kiwi heritage
