Small enough to know every child by name.
A Steiner-based school on Waiheke where older and younger children learn side by side. The whole school at one table: six children to start, outdoors and by hand.
We open in [term, year, to confirm]. Until then, this page describes the day we are building.
A day here
A day together
- Morning circle.Everyone in one circle: a song, a poem, and every name said out loud.
- Main lesson.The first long stretch of the morning, spent on one subject for a few weeks at a time, say fractions or the story of a river, so the whole room can go deep together.
- Outside together.Something to eat, then play. The older ones start the games; the younger ones join in.
- Making.Handwork in pairs: knitting, sewing, knots, woodwork, often an older and a younger child on one piece.
- Shared lunch.One table, everyone sitting down at once.
- Goodbyes.A story, a tidy-up, and goodbye to each child by name.
The shape of our day, not yet a timetable. We’ll publish times and hours outdoors once our site and teacher are confirmed. [to confirm]
Why so small
Three things you can ask us about
Small enough to know.
Six to start. We begin with six children and grow slowly. Every child known by name, every family known at the gate.
Older and younger, together.
Children of different ages share one room and one table, and learn from each other at it.
Outside on the timetable.
[X] hours a week outdoors, in [the garden / the bush / at the shore: confirmed places only].
The teacher
Meet [Teacher name]
[Teacher name] teaches [ages to confirm]. [One sentence: who taught them something that stuck, and what it was.] [One sentence: training and experience, only what can be checked.] [One sentence: what brought them to Waiheke and who they know here.] [One sentence in their own words: what they hope a child feels walking in each morning.]
Children’s work
Made together
Our first children haven’t started yet. When they do, their work will be shown here with their families’ permission, and never with a name.
Photo: Kier in Sight Archives, Unsplash · concept image, not our children’s workA rope, twisted from string by a six-year-old and a ten-year-old over one week. [example caption] 
Photo: Wanderlust in Frame, Unsplash · concept image, not our children’s workA map of the walk to the shore, drawn by the whole room, one landmark each. [example caption] 
Photo: Victoria Berman, Unsplash · concept image, not our children’s workA scarf, knitted by one child, cast off with help from an older one. [example caption]
Who we welcome
At this table
Every family is welcome at this table. Every background, culture, language and belief, every shape of family. [optional: “every family and whānau”, needs cultural advice]
Steiner education has a long history, and some of Rudolf Steiner’s writing and lectures contain race-based ideas. We reject them. Here, every child is equal, and every child is known.
If your child needs something different, tell us. We’d rather work it out with you than guess, and we’ll be honest about what one small room can offer. [to confirm: learning support and site accessibility]
Questions parents ask
Ask us anything
- Is it a registered school? Can we enrol?
- Not yet, and we’d rather tell you that than leave you wondering. We’re working through [to confirm: pathway] with the Ministry of Education. We’ll only use the word “registered” once it’s true, and enrolment opens once it’s settled.
- What does it cost?
- Fees are [to confirm: amount and period], covering [to confirm]. [to confirm: support for families who need it]. If cost worries you, talk to us. Nobody will be embarrassed for asking.
- Do you use screens?
- Not in the classroom. We keep screens out so the room is about the people in it. What your family does at home is up to you. [to confirm: adults’ phone use]
- What about later?
- It’s the question every parent asks, and it’s a good one. We can’t promise outcomes, and we won’t. We will teach reading, writing and maths to a written plan, and tell you plainly at what age we start formal reading and why [to confirm: approach and age]; keep you in the picture [to confirm: how often]; and plan the next step with your family, on the island or across the water.
What we’ve decided
- We’re on Waiheke Island.
- We’ll stay one room, with the whole school at one table.
- We’ll start with six children, older and younger together, and grow gradually.
- Our day will have a steady, Steiner-based rhythm.
- Screens stay out of the classroom.
What we’re still working out
- How we’re registered [to confirm]
- Where we’ll be [to confirm: site]
- The ages we take [to confirm]
- Fees, and help with them [to confirm]
- Who’s teaching [to confirm] and when we start [to confirm]
Ask us about anything in the right-hand column. We’ll update this as we go. Last updated [date].
Visit
Come and meet us.
Next open morning: [date] · [time] · [place]
We only use this to reply to you. Or ring [phone number] for a chat.