Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I enrol my child ? The first step is to submit an Expression of Interest form.
2. Is there a cost, and how does it work? The Kindergarten is only able to deliver a quality Waldorf based programme, in excess of the standard early childhood education funded by the Government, with the help of whānau contributions. We therefore request financial contributions from all families. •Attendance Dues/Kindergarten Fees are compulsory fees, and set to $1,460 for 2024. •Whānau payments are $1,890 per year. These are considered a donation. The Kindergarten is a registered charity, so you may be able to claim a tax rebate of 33.33% of your Whānau Payments contributions at the end of the financial year. Both amounts are requested via payment system Kindo.
3. Is there a long waiting list? If you wish for your child to have a Steiner education we recommend that you join a waiting list with us as things change very quickly and places can sometimes unexpectedly become available.
4. What is a Special Character Interview? A Special Character Interview is part of the process for determining a family’s connection to the Special Character of the School.
5. Is there a uniform or dress code? The Kindergarten is a place of physical movement and outside play. We ask that children wear comfortable and appropriate clothing in light colours in plain fabrics without pictures or words.
6. Are you open during the school holidays? The Kindergarten is open for the midterm holidays, operating from the beginning of term 1 to the end of term 4. We close for 6 weeks over the summer holidays.
7. How are academic subjects such as maths and literacy taught? Children are offered opportunities to express and explore these developing interests through play and everyday life experiences. Maths is learned through problem solving, counting and sharing, grouping and creating patterns, developing an idea of numbers and quantities. Blocks, matching games, threading games and mandalas are some of the open-ended resources that children use to explore maths. Literacy is about self expression of feelings and ideas, listening to stories, having access to books and participating in circle time verses and songs with rhymes and alliterations.
8. Do you teach religion? Raphael House Kindergarten is non-sectarian and non-denominational. We educate all children, regardless of their cultural or religious backgrounds. We do not promote a particular religious doctrine, but rather believe that there is a spiritual dimension to the human being and to all of life.
9. What about screens and media? Children learn primarily through play, movement and activity. Through play children develop their knowledge of the world, relationships, physical competency and their imagination. Playing is the child’s work, and takes the child constructively into the learning process. Much research over the years has identified the detrimental effects of television, DVD, YouTube and other online digital media viewing on the development of children. So it is our recommendation that media and screen time should be limited to nothing for very young children and minimal for school aged children.
10. What school certificate will a school graduate receive? They will receive a NZ Certificate of Steiner Education, which is a secondary school qualifications approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and are registered on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. NZCSE Level 3 is endorsed with University Entrance and has Ad Eundem status (with equivalent status) for entry into New Zealand Universities.