About Us

Then

Fairleigh Kindergarten was founded on the veranda of a Rossall Street home in 1915. Shifting around the corner to Holmwood Road a few years later, it ran as a preparatory school before moving again in 1929 to 27a Garden Road – the same site it stands today.

It was in those early days that a progressive group of parents banded together to form the Fairleigh Preschool and Community Centre. Later purchasing the Garden Road property, they became an incorporated, not-for-profit society that owned and administered the kindergarten. Decades on, this is still how we operate.

Every parent or caregiver becomes a valued member of our society, and we annually elect our governing board from this dedicated pool.

Now

Supporting creative choices, respectful relationships, and positive learning opportunities

“Poipoia te kakano kia puawai – Nurture the Seed and it will Blossom”

Poipoia- Our programme is responsive and inclusive of the bi-cultural curriculum of Aotearoa New Zealand. Our Fairleigh kindergarten values incorporate the idea that learning occurs through Whanaungatanga (Positive and Collaborative Relationships), Manawaroa (Resilience, Independence, and Persistence), Manaakitanga (Respect, Empathy and Kindness), and Takohanga (Responsibility for Self, Others, and the Environment). These are seeds we plant.

We believe that partnerships provide positive learning opportunities for all learners. Peaceful engagements encourage respect, empathy, and social competence. Strong, collaborative relationships with kaiako, tamariki, and whānau are at the heart of our community.

Opportunities are created for whānau to voice their views and aspirations which are listened and responded to. These inform practice and guide learning. Whānau are the experts of their tamaiti and together we nurture the seed.

Te Kakano- The Wairua of our Kindergarten is manaakitanga-a calm, peaceful, and welcoming environment that supports and protects a culture of kindness and empathy. As a community we respect and value all identities, languages, and cultures within our Kindergarten.

We believe that learning occurs when strengths are promoted, and interests are freely explored.

Learners are empowered to choose their own path, learning with and from people, places, and things and to have a sense of self and connection as a capable and confident learner.

We honour the ECE curriculum Te Whāriki, which supports a culturally responsive programme that forms the foundation for lifelong learning. The Wairua (spirit) of the kindergarten promotes a calm, inclusive environment, and we support our tamariki, kaiako and whānau with a sense of Manaakitanga (respect and kindness for others) to develop a culture of compassion.

As a not-for-profit community kindergarten, these strong connections with our parents and whānau are essential, and we value any input and feedback.

It’s been over 100 years since Fairleigh was founded on that old veranda stoop, and we’re still here – dedicated to our community and our children.