What is Tamariki o te Ngahere?

Tamariki o te Ngahere (Ngahere) is our specialised one-day-a-week programme for children preparing to start school. Designed for our oldest tamariki, the programme provides purposeful experiences that strengthen the skills, confidence, and independence children need for a successful transition to primary school.

Ngahere offers children the opportunity to step into a different learning environment with higher expectations, increased responsibility, and greater independence. Through a balance of structured experiences, group learning, and hands-on exploration, children practise many of the routines and behaviours they will encounter at school.

Children develop key school readiness skills including:

• Managing their own belongings, lunchboxes, and personal care needs

• Following routines, instructions, and safety expectations

• Participating confidently in group discussions and learning experiences

• Building resilience when faced with challenges or unfamiliar situations

• Working cooperatively with peers and adults

• Communicating ideas, asking questions, and solving problems independently

• Adapting to different environments, relationships, and expectations

Learning in nature provides rich opportunities to develop the foundations of literacy, mathematics, science, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Children are encouraged to observe, investigate, question, predict, measure, count, record, and reflect - skills that directly support future learning in the classroom.

Ngahere also strengthens the personal qualities that help children thrive at school. Children learn to persevere, manage risk, make decisions, take responsibility for themselves, and develop confidence in their own abilities. These experiences foster independence, self-management, and a positive attitude towards learning.

By the time children complete Tamariki o te Ngahere, they have had regular opportunities to practice the routines, responsibilities, social skills, and learning dispositions that support a positive start to school. Our goal is for every child to begin their school journey feeling capable, confident, and ready to learn.

What the day looks like

  • Children arrive at Old MacDonald’s as usual.

  • We aim to be on site at around 9:30am.

  • On arrival, one kaiako carries out a hazard check to identify any new hazards in addition to those previously identified, and report these back to the other kaiako and tamariki during our safety hui.

  • Simultaneously, the tamariki and other kaiako gather as a group to get ready for our safety hui. This involves highlighting the expectations and boundaries that protect the safety and wellbeing of children, kaiako and the environment including flora, fauna and water ways (this is based on risk assessments carried out prior to our visit).

  • During this time we also acknowledge our space, partake in karakia and waiata to greet and thank Papatūānuku, as well as honour our responsibility to Ngāti Hauā, whose whenua we play and learn on everyday.

  • Children engage in both teacher-led and child-led learning and explore the surrounding area alongside kaiako who are responsible for active supervision to ensure safety, as well as engaging with the children, feeding in rich language and extending on learning opportunities.

  • Most days we come together to build a fire and prepare food to share. Children may eat from their lunchbox when they feel hungry, but it is typical that we come together for kai at morning tea and lunchtime.

  • Cruise back to the centre at around 2:30pm.

What to pack

Lunchbox

A nut-free (may contain labels are fine), named lunch box.

Waterbottle

Please fill drink bottles with water only - bottles are refilled throughout the day as needed

Weather-appropriate clothing and shoes

Please dress your child in named clothes that are comfortable and suitable for play and the weather. Gumboots are ideal all year round!

Spare Clothes

Please pack a minimum of two named spare changes of weather appropriate clothes in your child's bag (including underwear and socks). In the winter time it is ideal if children have a couple of extra pairs of socks, a beanie, long sleeve thermals, long pants, a jumper/hoodie.

We provide wet weather gear, sun hats and sunblock

Ngahere is led by the incredible Anita and supported by one of our other fabulous permanent kaiako. All kaiako that attend ngahere are registered kaiako, and possess up to date first aid certificates.

Whānau are welcome to view our Tamariki o te Ngahere policy, procedures and risk assessment at any time! Just sing out!