About Kadimah Preschool

Our programme

Kadimah Preschool has a carefully planned programme for 2 to 6 year-olds.  We provide a strong framework which supports children’s playfulness, independence, and curiosity to foster a love of learning. Our teachers facilitate an inclusive environment where every child can express and explore their ideas and follow their interests.

We offer flexible scheduling options for families, along with 20 hours of subsidised early childhood education (ECE) for children aged 3 and up.

Transition to school

We support children in their transition to school, whether to Kadimah School or other schools, by holding regular shared activities on-site. The programme includes a balance of free play and intentional teaching following the child’s interests and parents’ aspirations. These include buddy reading sessions, where school children read with our preschoolers, participation in school assemblies, access to STEM facilities, the gym, and the library within the school grounds, and weekly transition to school sessions for our four-year olds.

Buddy reading - Kadimah preschool and Kadimah school students reading together.

Specialist programmes and facilities

We benefit from shared facilities with Kadimah School, and this is reflected in our weekly programme. Our children enjoy fun developmental activities in the school gym and library, as well as weekly sessions in the school’s music suite with our specialist music teacher. There are also a variety of other regular activities shared with Kadimah School, such as ‘Buddy Reading’ and opportunities to join in with Junior Assemblies.  

A week at Kadimah Preschool

Our preschool stands out by offering a wide range of unique and engaging activities. Each week, our preschoolers enjoy buddy reading sessions, where junior classes of Kadimah School students join us to read books together, fostering connection and a love for literacy. We hold music classes, allowing our preschoolers to explore and play a variety of instruments. We also have a news day activity, where our children take turns sharing an interesting event or story with the class. Their peers then ask follow-up questions, fostering organic discussions around the story. This activity helps build our childrens’ confidence while strengthening their connections with one another.

Additionally, our children benefit from access to the gymnasium and library on the school grounds. Preschoolers can borrow books to take home, encouraging reading and family involvement.

STEM activities are seamlessly integrated into our weekly routine. These age-appropriate tasks combine concepts from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, sparking curiosity, promoting innovation, and encouraging collaboration among our young learners.

Kadimah Preschool children doing music
Kadimah Preschool children doing science

Our philosophy

We believe that it is a privilege to be involved in the learning and development of young children, who should be perceived as capable, confident and unique individuals.

Therefore we endeavour to create a warm and secure environment where the children’s development and learning are encouraged in an atmosphere which is supported by Jewish values and the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum – Te Whāriki.

We promote a sense of belonging by valuing and celebrating the spiritual dimensions of Judaism as well as the diverse cultural backgrounds of all children. We look for the uniqueness of each child and are sensitive to our differences and who we are in the world. We also acknowledge the importance of recognising Māori as the Tāngata Whenua.

Treating all children and their families with respect and affection will facilitate the creation of an environment which supports the children to develop dispositions to become confident and competent learners, who will express and explore their own ideas and make contributions to the group.

This environment should also provide stimulating opportunities which encourage investigation and allow children to follow their interests as they learn and develop at their own rate, through play, experimentation and development of meaningful relationships.

Kadimah Preschool children playing outside

We believe that educators, who are engaged in a journey of lifelong learning, can support, guide and promote the children’s development, as we become interactive partners in the construction of knowledge. Therefore we value reflective practice as vital to personal and professional development and recognize that teamwork is essential to ensure a quality programme.

We consider communication to be of highest value, as it facilitates growth of trusting relationships with the children, their parents and the community. We therefore value the distinct dimension that each family offers and will share their child’s learning and development through interaction and documentation. This will enable us to work collaboratively towards common goals for the holistic development of each child.

We believe that all children and their families should feel welcome and included, regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic group, religion or any special needs. We will celebrate and promote the joy of learning and the achievements of every child.

We believe that we have a responsibility to nurture, positively guide and support each child as they develop their own special gifts for their future.

Our values

Every child is given the opportunity to enhance their love of learning through a balanced program designed to support their individual growth and development. We believe in nurturing a holistic educational experience that encompasses the following key values:

We celebrate and honor each child’s unique identity. We understand the importance of fostering a strong sense of self within an environment that embraces diversity, ensuring that every child feels valued, respected, and understood. By gaining knowledge of our Jewish traditions, ethics, and family values – along with a love for New Zealand – our young people become caring, active, responsible members of the community.

We believe in treating each child as an individual with their own thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Our dedicated teachers create a warm and nurturing environment where every child’s voice is heard, promoting mutual respect and appreciation.

We instill the value of “middot” in our curriculum, which means encouraging good deeds and positive character traits. We guide children to develop kindness, compassion and social responsibility.

We are passionate about fostering a culture of hands-on learning and design our programmes to promote knowledge, fulfilment, and creativity. We provide a stimulating environment where children are encouraged to explore their interests, imagine, create and express their ideas.

We embrace the spiritual aspect of Jewish tradition. Through age-appropriate experiences, we introduce children to the beauty of prayer and spirituality. We create a safe and inclusive space where children can explore the joy of exploring cultural connections.

We create a sense of belonging for all children.

Our community

Our roots are grounded in the Auckland Jewish community, and we continue to enjoy a rich heritage over 60 years of connections with the wider Auckland community.  We integrate Jewish cultural practices into our daily learning, and our values mean we are open to everyone.    

We welcome families from all cultural backgrounds.  We celebrate and value the diversity of our community.  We learn Hebrew alongside Te reo Maori, and integrate the other languages spoken by our Preschool community.

Our goal is to prepare children for their school years through a balanced programme of activities that celebrates each child’s individuality while fostering a sense of community. We encourage children to learn about one another’s heritage and warmly invite family members to contribute to the programme by leading activities. This could include reading a children’s book in their native language, leading a group play activity, or conducting a fun science experiment.