Victory Square Kindergarten

Up to 30 hours free • Play-based learning • Transition to school • Enviroschools Bronze

Hours
About
Our Team
More Info

Where we are

166 St Vincent Street
Nelson 7011

03 546 9633
victorysquarekindergarten@ntk.org.nz

Hours

Monday: 8.30am - 2.45pm
Tuesday: 8.30am - 2.45pm
Wednesday: 8.30am - 2.45pm
Thursday: 8.30am - 2.45pm
Friday: 8.30am - 2.45pm

 
Two young girls with light brown hair wearing casual clothes and sneakers are standing outdoors, holding small plant pots with emerging plants in front of a garden bed with various plants and flowers. In the background, a person is walking away near a wooden structure, and there are trees and a house.

Welcome to Victory Square Kindergarten

Victory Square Kindergarten is a vibrant, multicultural centre, welcoming families from a rich variety of cultural backgrounds. Our spacious, purpose-built kindergarten offers a warm and inviting environment that celebrates and reflects the diversity of our tamariki and their whānau.

Our kaiako provide a safe, nurturing, and consistent space where tamariki understand clear limits and boundaries, helping them to feel secure and confident.

We actively foster literacy, oral language, and numeracy development, encouraging children to explore print, language, and mathematics through meaningful, real-life experiences.

Bicultural values are at the heart of our learning environment, woven throughout the daily programme and reflected in our surroundings, honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and embracing Te Ao Māori.

Our Team

  • Head Teacher at Victory Square Kindergarten.

    Donna Bishop

    Head Teacher, Diploma of Teaching ECE

  • Kaiako at Victory Square Kindergarten.

    Deidre Rowe

    Teacher

  • Kaiako at Victory Square Kindergarten.

    Rebecca Krammer

    Teacher

  • Kaiako at Victory Square Kindergarten.

    Luise Swift

    Teacher

  • Kaiako at Victory Square Kindergarten.

    Alesha Birch

    Teacher

  • Sarah Randall

    Teacher

  • Administrator at Victory Square Kindergarten.

    Leonie Climo

    Administrator

  • At Victory Square Kindergarten, we nurture tamariki to develop a strong sense of identity, ensuring they know they are cared for and that their mana is upheld.

    We deeply value the partnership and contributions of tamariki, whānau, iwi, and our wider community.

    Kindness, empathy, and respect are not just taught — they are shown, modelled, and encouraged every day.

    We celebrate the strengths and potential of every tamaiti and whānau, recognising them as taonga tuku iho — precious heirlooms passed down through generations.

    Our tamariki are given many opportunities to understand, connect with, and care for the living world around them.

    We support children to grow in their love of learning, their resourcefulness, resilience, and their ability to take the lead on their own learning journey.

  • Our spacious, purpose-built kindergarten offers a warm and welcoming environment where the rich cultural backgrounds of our tamariki and their whānau are celebrated and reflected. Here, strong relationships and genuine partnerships between kaiako, children, and families create a true sense of belonging and community, making every child feel valued and supported on their learning journey.

  • At Victory Square Kindergarten, we offer a rich and varied programme designed to support the holistic development of our tamariki. Some of our regular activities include:

    • Active Little Learners – Weekly movement sessions that build strength, coordination, confidence, and a love for physical activity.

    • Library Visits to Victory Kura – Strengthening connections with our neighbouring kura and nurturing a love of books and storytelling.

    • Give Me Five Kaupapa – Our shared values framework that supports tamariki to understand and practise kindness, respect, responsibility, safety, and learning. These principles are woven into our daily routines and interactions, helping children grow into thoughtful, caring individuals.

    These experiences, alongside our play-based curriculum, support tamariki to develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively in a way that is fun, meaningful, and grounded in strong relationships.

  • Most sessions are free under the Ministry of Education’s 20 Hours ECE policy. Some fees may apply for additional hours or children under two. Family contributions are requested to cover extra activities.

    Learn more about fees and funding

  • Nau mai, haere mai – a big welcome to all tamariki and whānau.

    At Victory Kindergarten, children can begin their learning journey with us from the age of two. We’re open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 2:45pm, for all children over two years old. Our kindergarten operates from mid-January through to late December. We remain open during school breaks but do close for the Christmas holidays.

    Before your child officially starts, we encourage three settling visits. These help tamariki feel comfortable in their new environment and give you time to build a relationship with their key teacher — supporting a smooth and positive transition into kindergarten life.

    We look forward to meeting you and sharing our wonderful kindergarten with you.

    Read the latest Education Review Office report for Victory Square Kindergarten.

ENQUIRE TO ENROL
  • Child with braided hair wearing a pink quilted jacket reaching for a toy ambulance on a whiteboard in a classroom setting.
  • A colorful and busy classroom with children playing and learning. There are windows on the right side letting in natural light, shelves filled with educational materials, and various furniture including chairs, tables, and a sofa. The room is decorated with artwork and educational posters.
  • Child wearing pink jacket and Crocs playing with toy construction vehicle on sandy ground under a wooden pergola in a backyard with trees and playground equipment.
  • A person with a striped sleeve is arranging small colorful wooden figures on a wooden display, with a blue wall and a textured surface in the background.
  • A girl in a pink dress with ruffled sleeves standing outdoors next to a table with dishes, plants, and flowers, with greenery and trees in the background.
  • Children playing in a backyard play area underneath a large tree with green leaves. There are various toys, colorful blocks, and a small fence with white and yellow flowers, as well as a shaded wooden structure and a garden patch.
  • Classroom wall decorated with a world map, a poster of cultural dresses, and hanging decorations celebrating different regions, with shelves having educational toys and activities.
  • Children playing in a playground shaded by a large leafy tree, with various play equipment including a yellow slide, red and blue barriers, and a climbing frame.
  • A cafe or restaurant with an outdoor seating area, surrounded by greenery, and a cloudy blue sky above.
  • Children playing with water toys in a round, metal water table outdoors, surrounded by trees and playground equipment, with a boy wearing a red and black striped shirt in the foreground.