Find Our Kindergarten
Why Choose Us
At Kidsfirst Hargest Crescent, social competency and kaitiakitanga are at the heart of learning.
Our location in Waltham, opposite the school, creates natural opportunities for community connection. Through thoughtfully planned experiences, tamariki learn to engage positively with others while developing their own sense of identity and belonging.
Under the shelter of established trees, our outdoor space offers both active and peaceful areas for children to flourish. Tamariki choose between energetic play with moveable equipment and quiet moments in our reflection spaces, developing emotional awareness alongside physical skills.
Our registered, qualified kaiako support children to develop wonder and respect for their environment. Tamariki are encouraged to develop eco-awareness and to understand their role as kaitiaki. Our flexible spaces invite tamariki to explore at their own pace, nurturing their curiosity and capabilities while building meaningful connections and a love of learning.
We value the strong bonds we’ve developed with local primary schools, ensuring smooth transitions when children are ready to take their next steps. These connections help tamariki develop confidence in their wider community.
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
Kindy neighbours share the aroha
One of the benefits of being part of Kidsfirst is our kotahitanga – we’re so much better together, thanks to having nearly 70 kindys in our network. It’s the Kidsfirst way to offer manaakitanga when somebody is in need, so when Kidsfirst Ōpāwa St Martins needed a temporary home while their kindy was being renovated, our Hargest Crescent, Beckenham and The Bays kindergartens welcomed them with open arms. Ōpāwa St Martins kaiako kept tamariki settled and whānau connected through it all, and in the spirit of ako, there was learning and growth for everybody. We were proud to recognise the teams as Ngā Whetū at this year’s Annual General Meeting for their whakaute, whanaungatanga and more. He whānau kotahi tatou – we are all one big family at Kidsfirst.
Setting the tone for inclusivity
At Kidsfirst, every child is an individual, and accessibility for all is one of our foundation principles. At this year’s Values Awards, we were proud to recognise the team at Kidsfirst Hargest Crescent with a Board Award for going the extra mile in fostering an inclusive kindergarten environment that welcomes all types of learners. In partnership with the Ministry of Education, the kindergarten undertook a year-long project that offered all tamariki alternative ways to express themselves and communicate. Congratulations to the Hargest team. Our thanks to all of our values awards sponsors this year for their support – Aspen Joinery, Modern Teaching Aids NZ, Mortlock McCormack Law, One New Zealand, BDO, OfficeMax New Zealand, Tredsafe, Ricoh New Zealand Limited, and The Warehouse Group.
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A proudly New Zealand owned and operated not-for-profit kindergarten association with over 110 years of kiwi heritage
