Kia ora and haere mai, welcome to Ako Tahi Community Preschool
29 Crosby Street
(entrance off Crosby Street or Hills Road)
About Us
Who We Are
Our why
We believe tamariki thrive when they feel safe, heard, and valued. In this environment, they grow into confident, healthy learners, developing at their own pace with increasing independence and social competence.
We value fun, happiness, and laughter, with play-based learning supporting the development of curiosity, resilience, and confidence.
We honour Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural heritage and embrace the multicultural diversity of our community, recognising the importance of mana and the contribution of whānau.
Through respectful relationships and open communication, we foster a strong sense of belonging where all voices are heard and valued.
Join us on an exciting journey of learning and discovery together!
NOW OPEN 7.30am-5.30pm
Enrol now and receive FREE FEES until September 2026!!!
T's and C's apply.
Daily Programme
In order to provide our tamariki with predictability, Ako Tahi follows a daily programme to ensure all of our tamariki feel safe and secure.
A Day at Ako Tahi Preschool
7.30am Centre opens and greeting parents and children
as they arrive. Free play.
8.45am Outside opens, rooms separate.
9.45am Hui time, karakia, wash hands
10.00am Kai time/morning snack
10.20am Free play inside and outside
11.30am Short hui time, wash hands, karakia.
11.35am Kai time
12.00pm Free play inside and outside
12.15-12.30pm Sleep or rest time for those who require it.
2.00pm Rolling kai for those who would like some.
2.30pm Clean up time, close outside area if children are not going to be outside in that area. Close majority of experiences in other outdoor area.
2.45pm Greeting parents and farewelling some children.
3.00pm Combine rooms.
5.15-5.30pm Clean up time. Greeting parents and farewelling
remainder of children.
5.30pm Centre closes.
Parent Involvement
We value parent involvement at Ako Tahi and our aim is to work in partnership to ensure both whanau and child develop a sense of belonging.
Parents/whanau welcome
Each child’s emotional wellbeing is at the forefront of our minds, so parents/whanau are always welcome to stay a while after drop-off and join in the fun. By creating an open and collaborative atmosphere, we want our preschool to feel like your home from home.
Partnership with Ako Tahi Community Hub
Ako Tahi Preschool and Community Hub work together as one to provide a wrap a round service for our whanau and tamariki, please visit our 'Community Hub' section on our website for more information.
Curious about your child’s learning and development?
We welcome your curiosity in your child’s learning, all information/documentation about your child can be accessed by talking with our open and supportive teachers. Your child’s learning journal is always available for both you and your child to revisit past learning and to enjoy the celebration of current learning/discoveries.
Opportunity to meet with Kaiako
We can appreciate that pick up/drop offs are busy times, to ensure we can ‘check in’ with you, we are always to happy to meet with whanau as required. These meetings can provides the opportunity to share information in a calm and respectful atmosphere ensuring that we are meeting the needs of both you and your child.
Communication
We endeavour to communicate with our families openly and responsively and recognise how important continuity between home and Preschool is.
Please read notices that come home, keep an eye on our website/facebook page and enjoy reading our latest newsletter via email or on the notice board.
We will share lots of our Preschool happenings including the great experiences and learning your child has been involved in, up-coming events, Ministry of Education information and more.
If you have any suggestions, queries, or concerns, please see the Centre Manager.
Internal Reviews
To ensure we grow as a quality early childhood service it is important to continually review our practice. We invite you to share your thoughts about our current policies/procedures/practice as part of our scheduled and spontaneous reviews each month.
You will be notified of the reviews by one of the following methods:
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Email
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Information on our notice board
Sharing of skills or knowledge
Every person has something to share and we would love to have you join our team by sharing your expertise with our tamariki. If you are a superstar with a skill or have incredible knowledge on a topic, please let us know. We welcome our whanau to come and join our tamariki on their learning journeys.
Transitions
Any transition can be stressful for both children and whanau when your child transitions from either the under 2 environment or from the preschool to school we are here to support you every step of the way. Our teachers work extensively to create a plan in consultation with you that is individualised to meet the needs of your child. Communication during this process will be a high priority ensuring you and your child develop a strong sense of belonging.
