Whitiora – your kindergarten in the city – now open 8am–5pm weekdays

Whitiora Kindergarten, near Waikato Stadium and handy to the CBD on the corner of Abbotsford and Willoughby Streets, is now offering extended hours for greater convenience for families working and living in the central city.

While still offering traditional morning and afternoon sessions, the Kindergarten also has school day hours and, from the beginning of August, is now open 8am–5pm to better cater for city families.

Whitiora Kindergarten offers:

•20 FREE hours from 2-years-old

•passionate, qualified teachers

•close connections with Whitiora Primary School

•a well-resourced and huge outdoor play area

•safe, caring and stimulating environment

•a focus on our unique Enviroschools programme

•learning based on Te Whāriki (NZ Early Childhood Curriculum)

Part of the Waikato Kindergarten Association family, Whitiora Kindergarten has been a mainstay of early childhood education in the central city for almost 75 years, with many generations of Hamiltonians attending during this time.

“My son loves books — and all because of his teachers,” was just one comment received by a parent in the most recent Whaanau & Family Survey.

“The atmosphere of focused activity reflects the children’s engagement in learning,” was another.

Whitiora Kindergarten’s most recent Education Review Office report gave them the highest rating, with these points among the review findings:

“Children’s language, culture and identity are highly visible and valued. Learning partnerships between the kindergarten and home guide individual children’s programmes for learning. The learning programme is
tailored to all children’s abilities, emerging interests and needs. Complexity is added to play which empowers children’s sense of what they know and what they need to learn. Children are considered confident and are curious about the world around them.”

For older children, Whitiora Kindergarten (like all Waikato Kindergarten Association services) offers the Cool 4 School transition programme for four-year-olds, which aims to give parents and their child(ren) assurance that they will be a happy and successful learner at school. Kindergarten staff work together with families/whaanau to prepare each child for their transition to school by developing specific learning priorities in relation to the NZ Curriculum (Te Whāriki) and the NZ Primary School Curriculum.

With 20 free hours available weekly for children from two-years-old, families often find the Association’s 8am–5pm kindergartens a cost-effective and consistent service for their preschool education needs.

Other WKA kindergartens with 8am–5pm hours include Peachgrove, Chartwell, Deanwell, Hamilton West and Insoll Kindergartens in Hamilton, Leamington Kindergarten in Cambridge and Newcastle Kindergarten in Ngaruawahia.

Call 0800 CHILDREN (244 537) or find out more information on our website kindy.nz/whitiora