We honestly couldn’t feel more at home here. From the very first day, we’ve felt such a strong sense of belonging and community. The teachers bring so much passion to everything they do, and it shows in the way they care for and guide the children. We love the pastor, whose warmth and heart really shine through, and we’re also so grateful for the finance and operations manager, who has such a beautiful way of connecting with both the kids and families. It’s such a blessing to have found a place where our daughter is not only learning but also surrounded by love, faith, and genuine care.
As an ECE teacher myself, I searched all kindergartens and childcare centres near
Howick and Bucklands Beach when I was looking for a centre for my then three-year-old. I visited several centres and finally decided on St Andrew’s Chilton Kindergarten because of the loving atmosphere I felt when I first visited. It was a rainy day which usually means chaos for other centres. But when I walked into the classroom that day, it was super calm and the teachers were very friendly and welcoming.
My son has now been in this kindy for more than a year. He has made lots of friends and always talks about the amazing activities he did at kindy every day. The teachers are eager to learn about his interests and have developed several projects around his interests. I can see his confidence grow every day. Massive thanks to all the teachers at St Andrew’s Chilton Kindergarten.
Absolutely love St. Andrew’s! Both of my children have attended, and it’s been such a positive experience. My eldest son truly flourished here, gaining confidence and a strong sense of self stepping his School years. Now my youngest daughter attends and absolutely loves it too.
The centre itself is such a warm and inviting space with lots of sunlight. The outdoor area and playground is awesome with enough room for a full house; the bike track is especially loved – my sons top pick for sure!
Being a smaller, close-knit centre, it really feels like family. The educators are incredible, so nurturing & attentive, many of which have been there for over 10 years – which also speaks volumes. Their attention to detail is outstanding, especially in the thoughtful Storypark stories that beautifully capture each child’s journey.
There’s a strong focus on creativity, cultural diversity, and community engagement also. Every day is filled with meaningful, engaging activities. I love seeing what they come up and look forward to their updates.
Truly feel lucky to be part of such a special place. I even convinced my sister to enrol her daughter earlier this year & she too now sings the same praises.
Sorry a bit of a novel I know, but hard to condense a review when there are so many great things to highlight!
We can’t recommend St Andrew’s Chilton enough. The staff are truly dedicated to providing a wonderful environment for all the children in their care. The communication and feedback we receive is exceptional and provides us with confidence that our kids are in the best environment possible. We have sent both our sons to St Andrew’s Chilton and both love it there.
Our family has loved being part of the kindergarten community. Our child has truly thrived in such a safe, fun, and nurturing environment. He looks forward each day to spending time with his teachers and friends, and we feel reassured knowing he is so well cared for. This has been a wonderful beginning to his learning journey, and we are very grateful for the warm and welcoming community. We are also excited to send our second child when the time comes.
St Andrews Chilton Kindergarten is such a wonderful Kindy. My daughter who looks forward to going every day is cared for with kindness and compassion. The team all take the time to get to know her as an individual, meeting her needs, learning her dreams, encouraging her strengths and supporting her learning. The care that has been extended to my family as we navigate life with a new baby has been so special and we are so grateful we have somewhere we can be so confident in sending our daughter every day.
Over the past few years, our family has grown to love Chilton Kindergarten. It truly feels like our kids have found a home here, and we’ve seen firsthand how the teachers embody the kind of Christ-like love and compassion we want our children to learn. They model Jesus’s behaviour in their daily interactions and it shows.
Their deep care is reflected in the great mix of activities they offer. They cater to so many different interests and abilities, from outdoor adventures like biking and creative water play to artistic projects and hands-on activities. Every day is a new opportunity for learning, my daughter, for instance, loves painting, and it’s so precious to see her flourishing in this area. We also appreciate how the teachers celebrate different events and teach the children about other cultures throughout the year. The positive Māori influence is especially wonderful, with the kids learning waiata and a few words of te reo Māori to support their understanding of our culture.
The love and care even extends beyond graduation. Even after our oldest child moved on this year, the teachers still show a sincere interest in him when we pick up his younger sister. They are always ready with kind, encouraging words for our family, which I find especially helpful on those rough mornings with a 1 year old who can’t wait to start kindy too!
Both of our children have grown so much in their confidence and interactions with others and I know that they are safe and secure here; very rarely did they ever struggle to say goodbye because they knew that they’d be well looked after and had a day of fun to look forward to. On top of that, Pastor Matt’s weekly visits have deepened their knowledge of Bible stories and songs, perfectly supporting the learning we are doing at home as a family.
Knowing that many young hearts have passed through these doors, we truly hope that the lovely staff at Chilton have planted the seeds of the joy of living for the Lord in each and every one of them. Send your kids here! It’s lovely and homely and feels like you’re dropping your kids off to stay with their favourite aunties.
St Andrews Chilton Kindergarten is a wonderful, nurturing and welcoming kindy. My daughter has felt a sense of ukaipotanga (belonging) from early in her attendance journey. The head teacher, Olivia and her wonderful staff achieve this with their kindness and care. They also work hard to create a unique learning environment for the tamariki to engage in their local community through focusing on local curriculum. This is such a strength and you can tell the tamariki have a sense of whanaungatanga (connection) between home, community and kindy life. The NZ ECE Curriculum, Te Whariki, is woven through all that they do.