Kindergartens

We have 24 kindergartens throughout Southland placed at the heart of rural and urban communities.

We work hard to ensure all children at every kindergarten experience the best teaching and learning environments.

Our kindergarten locations are listed below.

Spaces available now at Bluff, Clarendon, Elston Lea, Grasmere, Kew, Northern Southland, Ranui, Rockdale

Elsie Street Kindergarten

Open: Monday to Friday 8.15am – 4.15pm

Session times: Monday to Friday 8.45am – 2.45pm

Address: 6 Elsie Street, Gore 9710

Phone: (03) 208 6575

Email: elsiestreet@ska.co.nz

Teachers: Cara Sharp, Nicki Munday, Marcia Brown, Cheri Parker

Number of children: 30

Elsie Street Kindergarten is a fun place to be. We provide an unhurried, active learning environment which respects people, places and things. We value the relationship between kindergarten and home to ensure the best learning outcomes for each child. Our programme provides learning opportunities that lay the foundations for tamariki to become competent and confident life-long learners.

We have an established nature discovery programme called ‘Nui Ferns’ that is well supported by our community, parents and whanau and our tamariki absolutely love it. Each Tuesday our ten oldest tamariki make their way out to Dolamore Park for a morning filled with fun, laughter, challenges and exploration in nature. All our tamariki are given the opportunity to be a part of this amazing learning experience.

We enjoy being involved in our community including, visits to our local rest home, schools and attending community events.

We would love to meet you, we have an open-door policy and invite you to view our programme and environment in action at a time that suits you.

Longford Kindergarten

Open: Monday to Friday 8.15am – 4.15pm

Session times: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 2.30pm

Address: 11 Vera Street, Gore 9710

Phone: (03) 208 9203

Email: longford@ska.co.nz

Teachers: Megan Hunter, Kelly McCann, Amy Barnett

Number of children: 30 in the morning, 20 in the afternoon

Longford Kindergarten is situated on the same site as Longford Intermediate School.

Our award winning playground features natural environments specifically designed to invite children to make discoveries, provoke wonder, inspire curiosity and to engage them in developing working theories of the world they live in.

Our new building provides a well-designed, well-resourced and inviting indoor environment; our teachers have deliberately arranged the spaces to encourage small and large-group activities.

We value responsive and reciprocal relationships between children, families, teachers and the wider community. We welcome parents and whanau to come along to see what the children are doing and join in with activities at any time.

Children can attend for up to six hours a day or just the morning.

To find out more and arrange a time to meet our friendly team, please contact us.

Oxford Kindergarten

Open: Monday to Friday 8.15am – 4.15pm

Session times: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 2.30pm

Address: 16 Oxford Street, Gore 9710

Phone: (03) 208 4147

Email: oxford.kindy@ska.co.nz

Teachers: Katrina Blondell, Sarah Barclay, Leah Heaps

Number of children: 30 in the morning, 20 in the afternoon

At Oxford Kindergarten we love to have fun! We offer interesting, natural spaces for children to explore and investigate, providing an unhurried and relaxed environment for them to develop confident and competent learners.

We are passionate about the community of Gore and regularly plan excursions to provide opportunities for learning outside the classroom. Recent outings have included visiting the Windsor Park Rest Home, attending a basketball game, taking part in the Christmas Parade and visiting local primary schools.

We also make annual trips to visit Dolamore Park and the Mataura River where children can make connections with their everyday learning within the natural environment.

Relationships with whanau/family are integral to our kindergarten. We are lucky to have a diverse range of urban and rural families attending, and their identities and culture are reflected throughout the kindergarten. We love to involve families in our programme and hold family nights each term, regular family excursions and informal chats on a daily basis.

Flexible spaces for attendance are available, with options for children to be at kindergarten all day or just for the morning.

To find out more and arrange a time to meet our friendly team, please contact us.