Gates have opened for the founding tamariki of Faulkner Bush Kindergarten, giving them the chance to learn through play in what staff describe as a “stunning” Wakefield setting.
The kindergarten was recently sanctioned by the Ministry of Education, allowing its first group of 10 young children to galavant in and outside the former Scout den last week.
Staff and the Nelson Tasman Kindergarten (NTK) board say the new site will help ease pressure on other kindergartens in the Waimea catchment, where backlogged waitlists occurred as more families moved rurally.
Head teacher Virginia Oakly says it's time for children to connect with nature after NTK purchased the building in 2024, followed by securing both resource and building consent, and Tasman District Council granting a five-year lease over the council-owned land.
“The community, when they talk to us, have said how much needed this kindergarten was,” Virginia says.
“There’s a really high need for the quality of early childhood education out this way. The existing services are doing really well, but we just really needed more availability, and so this is really timely.
“We find the parents, as soon as they walk in the gate, think it’s a beautiful building in such a natural setting with the birds flying around…and we’ve kept elements of the old Scout den along with new elements.”
She says the roll can take 40 children aged between two and six, with more than 30 enrolling after enrolments opened mid-last year.
“Some of those have got places elsewhere, which you expect, and some of them are too young to start yet, but a lot have been doing second visits and are on our roll to start this week.”
Virginia and another qualified teacher, along with an administrator, will support the children’s development, with the natural surroundings acting as the third teacher.
“We have been in contact with the Faulkner Bush Restoration Society about having them come in and do stuff with our children around looking after and caring for nature.
“Using the environment as a third teacher is going to be a huge part of our philosophy. It will very much contribute to our roll growth.”
Faulkner Bush Kindergarten has two rights of renewal of 10 years each, totalling 25 years if it establishes its viability within the first five-year lease term.
