Our Curriculum
At Sunnynook Private Kindergarten, we are proud to offer a curriculum that balances a love of learning with strong foundations for school, all within a caring, supportive environment where every child feels they belong.
We weave the principles of Te Whāriki, New Zealand’s Early Childhood Curriculum, into everything we do.
At the same time, we offer a unique, highly-regarded Transition to School Programme that has been helping local children successfully prepare for primary school for over 40 years.
Transition to School: Building Confidence for the Next Big Step
Our Transition to School Programme is a key part of what makes Sunnynook Private Kindergarten special. We are proud to be well-known in the Sunnynook and wider North Shore community for preparing children to start school with confidence, independence, and a genuine excitement for learning.
Our four-year-olds participate regularly in the following;
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Literacy activities and daily reading with teachers designed to develop early literacy concepts
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Fun and engaging maths concepts and number awareness
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Group discussions and inquiry-based learning
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Projects and excursions into our local curriculum
We warmly welcome you to stay and observe our Transition to School Programme at any time — you’ll see first-hand how thoughtfully and intentionally we support our children to thrive.
A Curriculum That Grows the Whole Child
At Sunnynook Private Kindergarten, we value every child as a capable, confident learner.
Our programme provides a rich variety of learning experiences designed to nurture the whole child — intellectually, culturally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially.
Each day, children have opportunities to:
🌟 Make their own choices, problem-solve, and rise to new challenges
🌟 Learn and play alongside others, developing friendships, teamwork skills, and empathy
🌟 Dance, sing, and explore music in ways that build confidence and joy
🌟 Develop important self-help skills that lead to greater independence at school and beyond
🌟 Be creative and expressive, using a wide range of art, craft, and dramatic play experiences
🌟 Build strong listening and communication skills that form the foundation for success both inside and outside the classroom
We believe in the importance of a balanced day — with time for structured learning, free play, and exploration indoors and outdoors. Our environment is carefully designed to stimulate curiosity, encourage perseverance, and celebrate each child’s unique strengths and interests.
"For some children, the purely play-based environment does not suit their needs, and our son is one such child. This is the very reason we chose to send our child to Sunnynook Private Kindergarten. Due to the work that the teachers have done with our son, he is much more confident with himself, he is better able to express his emotions and feelings, and is more creative in his endeavours."
Sian Morgan Waite (Parent)