Find Our Kindergarten
Why Choose Us
At Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street, we continue over a century of educational heritage while creating modern learning experiences for today’s tamariki.
We work to create a home-like environment where children and whānau feel comfortable and secure that this is “their place”. When you visit, there’ll be a warm welcome from our friendly tamariki and teaching team.
The inside environment is large, light, warm and beautifully decorated with many examples of our children’s wonderful learning and artwork.
A range of educational resources and defined play areas make for a great environment in which to play, learn and have fun. Our education programme reflects and values the rich cultural diversity of our community, encouraging tamariki to build their self-confidence, develop their own interests and explore a broad range of learning experiences – laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Our Big Backyard is a highlight, with lots of natural shade and inspiring spaces for stories, games or quiet times. It’s a wondrous space filled with native plantings and is ideal for curious learners and creative imaginations. Here, tamariki develop confidence through appropriate risk-taking with real tools, from gardening equipment to woodworking materials, all under careful supervision. There’s a variety of challenging climbing and physical play equipment inviting active exploration, too.
Our team is committed to enriching children’s lives in a caring, inclusive and respectful environment. The values of trust, honesty, respect and responsibility are woven through every day and the close relationships which our teachers develop with parents and families contribute greatly to each child’s learning.
Our qualified kaiako create an inclusive, caring environment where close relationships with whānau support each child’s unique learning journey. These partnerships, combined with our strong connections to local primary schools, ensure smooth transitions when children are ready to move on to school.
Nau mai, haere 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.
What Families Say
Latest News
Growing green makes kindy sorbet
They’ve been making the most of what’s left of summer in the kitchen at Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street, where tamariki have been busy making sorbet. Careful kaitiakitanga in the kindy’s Big Backyard meant an abundance of plums and blackberries, and tamariki took turns adding ingredients and seeing them magically transformed into sweet treats. It was a great way to keep cool on a hot raumati day ☀️❤️🍦 ka pai, Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street.
Bird-watching as kaitiaki
Peanut butter, and hollowed out apples and pine cones have kept Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street tamariki busy this week, as they continue their winter exploration of all the corners of their Big Backyard. Serious about their role as kaitiaki of their environment, they’ve worked together to build bird feeders which tamariki now tend to each day. Then it’s just a matter of watching and waiting for their fluttery friends to appear through kindy binoculars. Ka pai tō mahi – great work Edmonds Smith Street 🐦⬛❤️
Merry Christmas from Kidsfirst
Meri Kirihimete! ’tis the season for a celebration, and boy do our kindys know how to party 🎉🥳 Every year whānau, special guests, kaiako and tamariki come together for shared kai, Christmas performances, and sometimes, even a visit from Hana Kōkō – Santa Claus. What a great way to spread the festive aroha. Our thanks to Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street and Lady May for sharing the fun 🎄❤️
Getting out & about in the community
Tamariki from Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street have been out and about in their local community. One of their favourite stops is the Portstone Garden Centre, and the local Petworld.chch, because of the wide-ranging experiences and opportunities for learning it presents – kei runga noa atu, Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street, what a great excursion.
Sprucing up the big backyard for Spring
Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street tamariki and kaiako are getting their big backyard ready for spring, making it even more welcoming to native manu (birds), and other wildlife. Tamariki have been keeping a watchful eye out for their favourite birds through the kindy binoculars since constructing a new bird feeder – and, already, curious pīwakawaka are chirpier. Kei hea kē mai koutou, Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street – that’s fantastic
Tamariki embrace the Autumn weather
It’s been a big week for tamariki coming back from the term break, with lots of fun, learning, and connection – just like these Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street tamariki, who have made the most of their big backyard despite the autumn weather.
Painting the town green for St Patricks Day
Our kindergartens painted the town green last week for St Patrick’s Day. The day holds special meaning at Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street, who celebrated kaiako Evie’s Irish heritage. Tamariki embraced the fun, hunting for cheeky leprechauns in their big backyard, getting messy with green water, and dancing to traditional Irish music. Kidsfirst Belfast kaiako enthusiastically greeted tamariki when they arrived with music, and fabulous green outfits.
Keeping connections alive in the garden
Whanaungatanga – having a sense of belonging in our communities – is something our kindergartens nurture, and at Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street, they’re keeping connections alive through a love of gardening. A recent expedition saw them head to the nearby Portstone Garden Centre to choose some plants for their big backyard, and then on to their favorite coffee shop Red Eight at Portstone Café to pick up the ‘black gold’ coffee grinds, that help their garden grow. You’re awesome, Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street, koia kei a koutou!
Apply Now
A proudly New Zealand owned and operated not-for-profit kindergarten association with over 110 years of kiwi heritage
