What will my child be doing?
We provide a Reggio-inspired programme which mixes free play with teacher-led learning.
Children learn through play, and so the majority of the time our children play at activities which interest them, supported by our teachers. We have a wide range of activities available for them, including drawing and painting, puzzles and matching games, construction sets and block play, dress-ups, the sand pit and our playground. Teachers supervise and take advantage of the "teachable moments', when they get actively involved to expand children's knowledge and excitement about a topic that's caught their interest. We believe that children should have a wide range of resources to choose from, so when you visit us, you will see lots of things to play and build with within their reach, so that they can explore them at will.
Before our meal breaks, we have mat time. Mat time is another group time which allows children to practice sitting on the mat (just like the big kids at school!) to hear stories, sing songs and jump and dance together. On Tuesday and Friday mornings a group of teachers and older children will go for a bush walk to Phyllis Reserve and Oakley Creek. This is where we get to put our Forest Kindergarten ideas into practice, as children explore the natural environment and bring back items that interest them - anything from bugs to leaves.
Later in the day as children begin to go home, we will often sit together and read books and sing songs as we wind down from the day.
A typical Red Kite day
7.30am |
| Centre opens. Some children have breakfast, then it's teacher-led activities or free play |
9.30am | Morning tea | |
10.00am | On Tuesdays and Fridays, bush walks depart for our older children. Twice a week our toddlers can participate in baking. | |
11.15am | Tidy Up Time followed by mat time. We listen to stories, sing and dance. | |
11.40am | Lunchtime. We sing our karakia and then eat together | |
12.00-12.30pm | Naps begin for younger children; older children have quiet play | |
1.00-2.15pm | Free play or teacher-led activities | |
2.15pm | Tidy Up Time followed by mat time | |
2.30pm | Afternoon tea. If we did baking today, we get to eat what we made! | |
3.00pm - 6.00pm | Free play and teacher-led learning. A late snack is served around 5pm if children are hungry |
Nutrition & meals
Meals are part of the service we provide. Our cook makes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, based on a menu that changes each week. Our menu has been designed for healthy eating, with low salt and minimal use of sugar.
Seasonal fruit is an important component of our snacks, but they also include cheese, corn thins, yoghurt, sandwiches and raw vegetables and dips such as hummous. Lunch examples include vegetarian pizza, macaroni cheese, spinach puffs and omelette. We offer generous portions so children can eat as much as they need, with milk in the afternoon too. For those staying to the end of the day, we offer a small late snack around 5pm.
Children always have access to their own drink bottles and bring them to the table when they eat.
As children sit and eat in a group, they become familiar with different foods and, with teachers' help, learn how to serve themselves.
More details are available on request - please just ask!
Settling your child
Time spent settling in - familiarisation with our centre, the teachers and other children - is an important investment in your child's emotional wellbeing. No charge is made for play dates and we will consult with you before your enrolment begins about your child's individual needs.
As a general rule, we suggest three pre-arranged “play dates” of about one hour in duration, accompanied by a caregiver. However, every child is different, so more or fewer of these may fit your child better. We will always consult with you, as you know your child best.
We encourage new families to chat and ask questions of the teachers in the room – children will take their lead from their families and so we encourage teachers and caregivers to use this time to build relationships.
Free ECE hours
The New Zealand Government funds all children for up to 30 hours of early childhood education per week (a maximum of six hours per day.) For 3 and 4 year olds, up to 20 of these hours can be funded at a higher rate, allowing us to offer those twenty hours ("20hrs ECE") free of charge.
For more information, just give us a call: 09 8468436.
We follow the precepts of the NZ Early Childhood curriculum, Te Whariki. You can find out more about Te Whariki here.
Storypark: Keeping you up to date & involved
We like to keep you up to date with what your child has been doing during the day, and share pictures and learning examples so you can see your child exploring their world and having fun. Apart from seeing you at drop off and pick up time, we use the Storypark app to post about your child's activities and learning. Your child's feed is private and available only to teachers and to you, but we also share centre activities, which all parents can access. You can post about things your child has been doing at home, too, so that we can keep exploring your child's interests at preschool.
You can choose to add extended members of your family to your child's feed if you'd like to - it's a fantastic way of keeping family in other places up to date with what your child has been up to. This service is included as part of your child's enrolment with us.
We welcome the contributions of parents and families! If you have information or a great idea to share, please email us at info@redkitepreschool.co.nz
Parent reviews, policies, & ERO Reports
Underpinning the fun we have each day is a comprehensive system promoting your child's safety and wellbeing. We have detailed policies covering most aspects of your child's care, including sickness, sleeping, administration of medicines, sunsafe, positive guidance and many others. These, and a host of other information are available upon request so please feel free to ask any questions.
The Education Review Office (ERO) evaluates Early Childhood Education Centres periodically and publishes the results of its findings. Red Kite Mount Albert had its first review with ERO in late November 2024 and received positive feedback. At 31 March 2025, we still await the written report.
You can read reviews from parents on Google, too - just search on Red Kite Preschool Mt Albert.
Settling your child
Time spent settling in - familiarisation with our centre, the teachers and other children - is an important investment in your child's emotional wellbeing. Our teachers will consult with you before your enrolment begins about your child's individual needs.
No charge is made for play dates. As a general rule, we suggest three pre-arranged “play dates” of about one hour in duration, accompanied by a caregiver. However, every child is different, so more or fewer of these may fit your child better. We will consult with you at the time of enrolment about the best approach, as you know your child best.
We encourage new families to chat and ask questions of the teachers in the room – children will take a lead from their families and so we encourage teachers and caregivers to use this time to build relationships.
At any time during your visit, parents are welcome to leave the room and use our staff room. Whenever a parent leaves a child, we encourage them to say a brief goodbye and then leave, as this minimises stress on the child.