Kinma is a School Where Your Child Can Truly Thrive
Kinma is a unique and nurturing learning environment, dedicated to providing an inspiring and empowering education for every child. If you feel that Kinma could be the right fit for your family and you’re interested in becoming part of our vibrant community, we would love to hear from you.
Waitlist Enquiry
Thank you for your interest in Kinma School.
If you are considering Kinma for your child, and you have already completed a school tour; we invite you to complete the waitlist enquiry form below. This will place your family on our waitlist. Once we receive your enquiry, a member of our team will be in touch to guide you through the next steps, including providing an enrolment form and arranging a time to meet and discuss your child’s learning journey in more detail.
Book a Tour
We warmly invite you to join us for an upcoming school tour at Kinma. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience firsthand what makes our school such a unique and special place. To reserve your place, please register using the link below.
Schedule of Fees
Please find below our schedule of fees. If you have any questions or require any further information please contact us.
Enrolment Process
*Some additional steps in the enrolment process may be required.
The Kinma School Board
The Kinma School Board plays a vital role in the governance and strategic leadership of our school. It is responsible for setting the overall direction, establishing key policies, and ensuring that Kinma remains true to its values and vision. While the Board focuses on big-picture planning and oversight, the day-to-day management of the school is handled by the Head of School and the leadership team.
The board oversees the strategy planning, governance, risk for the business and financial oversight.
Board Composition
The Board is made up of between six and ten members, including:
- Up to six parents elected from the Kinma Community
- Two community representatives with expertise or interest in education or school administration
- Two members with specific skills or experience to help support the school’s goals
Elections and Meetings
Parent members are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Board meets monthly at the school, and meeting dates are published in the school newsletter to encourage parent participation.
Contacting the Board
The Kinma School Board values open communication and welcomes input or questions from parents and community members. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to learn more about the Board’s work, please feel free to reach out. Contact details can be found on the school website or by visiting the school office.
Learn More
All parents are encouraged to read the Kinma Constitution, which outlines the Board’s responsibilities and governance framework.
Kinma Board Members
The Kinma Board is responsible for governance, strategy, risk, and finances to support the school’s stability and long-term vision.
The Kinma Board is responsible for governance, strategy, risk, and finances to support the school’s stability and long-term vision.
Policies
We’ve made a number of our policies available publicly so that families and friends of Kinma can see how we support children and our community. Many more policies are available, and we welcome you to contact the office if there’s something specific you’d like to view.
For more policies, please contact the office.
School Bus Services
Kinma offers convenient morning and afternoon bus services to support families across the Northern Beaches and Upper North Shore.
Morning Services
In the morning, CDC buses run directly to Kinma from:
- Elanora Heights
- Davidson
- Mona Vale
In addition, the bus stop on Myoora Rd is a short walk, and has services from: Chatswood, Pymble and Turramurra railway stations.
Afternoon Services
In the afternoon, CDC buses run directly from Kinma to:
- Mona Vale
- Pymble railway station
Additional connecting services via Northern Beaches Christian School provide transport to: Chatswood, Turramurra, Hornsby, Pymble, Elanora Heights, Warriewood, Belrose and Frenchs Forest
These services provide reliable and flexible transport options, helping students travel to and from Kinma with ease. For route details, timetables, and availability, please contact the school office or click here.
FAQs: Preschool
Common questions, answered
Common questions, answered
What do I need to send with my child to Kinma Preschool?
Sunhat/Clothes
- Over the course of the preschool day, temperature and weather conditions may vary. It can be cold enough for coats and beanies in the morning and hot enough for t-shirts by three o’clock. Layers are recommended. Always send a set of spare clothes – more than one if your child is learning to use the toilet. In warmer weather we enjoy water play, so expect some wet clothes! Children are encouraged to participate in a wide range of experiences, some of which are messy. We encourage families to send their children in clothes that either wash well or are considered “Kinma Clothes”.
Food and drink
- Morning tea and lunch in easy to open lunch box or containers. Food that requires refrigeration can be stored in a fridge which accessible to the children, please let the educators know their food in there and label it.
- Bring a drink bottle every day. There is water always available as well.
- Please do not send any nuts or nut butter (peanut butter, Nutella, cashew butter). The preschool has students with life threatening allergies to these foods, so it is very important to exclude any nuts from your child’s Kinma food. If your child eats any nut butter for breakfast, please wash their face and hands thoroughly before they come to preschool.
What age can my child start Kinma Preschool?
- Kinma preschool is available for children aged from three years old and up to six years old.
- Kinma playgroup is available on a Monday for children younger than three and up to six years.
How many days should my child attend?
- We offer two to five days at preschool. there are no set days of attendance, we consider availability as well as the children’s needs. For example a younger child may benefit from spread out days if they have a day rest so that the in between days can have a sleep at home for ready for the creativity and connection at Kinma.
- We do not offer one day a week enrolments.
How many children and staff are there each day?
- There can be approximately 24 children a day with three staff for the full day and a part time staff as well. At times there may be additional staff depending on the needs of the children.
- All Kinma educators are deeply committed to our unique approach to teaching and care. Many of our staff have been part of the Kinma community for many years, helping to nurture a strong, consistent culture and ensuring rich, captivating learning experiences for every child.
What should we do on arrival?
- Children need to be accompanied through the preschool gate by their parent or caregiver. Please “sign-in” next to your child’s name. This is a legal requirement.
- Encourage your child to place their belongings inside their locker.
- Apply sunscreen each day (when UV is above 3) Sunscreen for you to apply to your child on arrival. Staff will reapply (with your consent) later in the day.
- You are most welcome to stay and participate with your child in the preschool program – for the whole day if you wish!
When the time comes for you to say goodbye…
- Each family will develop their own way of saying “goodbye” over time. We encourage parents and caregivers to spend a few minutes engaging in an activity with their child. You may like to build something together at the box construction or use play dough. It can be particularly useful to involve another child in the activity so your child is already interacting with someone else when it’s time for you to leave.
- Parents and caregivers are strongly encouraged to tell their child when they’re leaving. While it can be tempting to “sneak away” while your child is busy, this practice can leave children with insecurities. Occasionally a child or parent is distressed by this separation. We all sometimes find it difficult saying goodbye to people we love. If this happens, we encourage you to call the preschool after half an hour or so to check how your child has settled.
- Please also remember to “sign-out” (also a legal requirement) and say goodbye at the end of the day. Our staff look forward to talking with you about your child’s day. Some longer conversations are better served by a meeting arranged for a mutually convenient time.
How can I be confident my child is eating and drinking while at preschool?
- Two of the great pleasures in life are good food and good conversation. At Kinma, meals are usually a communal experience. However, we also acknowledge that children eat varying amounts in any one “sitting” and that they get hungry at different times. Some preschool children have been up for hours before preschool even starts, others have just had breakfast. At Kinma, children eat sitting on blankets or chairs in a specific area under the verandah. Staff eat and drink with the children.
- Staff maintain a class roll and mark children off as they eat a “reasonable” amount of morning tea and then lunch. If by about 10:15am, a child has not had some morning tea, or by about two hours later they have not had some lunch, staff become more definite about their requests that the child do so. Uneaten food is sent home so you can see what has been eaten. Typically children are drawn to the “food area” by an interesting conversation, or a peer wanting to “eat and talk”. As in any early childhood setting, we cannot make children eat. If we are concerned your child is not eating or drinking enough at Kinma, we will talk with you about this. Please let us know if you have this concern.
- Also in the “food area” children sort their lunch rubbish into compost – which goes to feed our worm farm and chickens, materials for box construction or paper recycling and non-recyclable rubbish. Tap water is available to the children at all times, and they can serve themselves water throughout the day. Please talk with a member of the teaching staff if you have any further questions.
What if my child is in nappies or still learning to use the toilet?
- That’s ok. Children learn to use the toilet independently at their own rate. Some children regress temporarily when something big happens in their life – like the birth of a sibling, moving house or starting preschool. Learning to use the toilet is a skill most easily achieved by children when adults maintain a calm approach. Using the toilet can be talked about as a skill that allows more time for other, more exciting activities.
- Accidents elicit a gentle, “Never mind. Let’s get you into some dry clothes” and perhaps encouragement to “have a try” on the toilet. Many children learn how to use the toilet by copying others, including their preschool peers. Please talk with a member of the teaching staff if you have any further questions.
Is it OK to bring toys from home?
The toys at preschool are carefully selected for safety, and we do not have any toys that include button batteries, sharp edges or any dangerous parts.
There are four reasons why children are asked not to bring toys from home into Kinma Preschool or Primary:
- Children (and sometimes parents) can become very distressed if toys are lost or broken.
- Children can be quite competitive about toys from home. Almost without exception, the most expensive toys are the ones that attract the most prestige. Staff time spent looking for “Barbie’s lost pink slipper” (a true example of a very distressed child) could be better spent enhancing the preschool program.
- Some toys suggest a particular (and limited) type of play.
- Encouraging children to “make their own” helps develop a myriad of skills.
Do the preschool children have a rest/sleep time?
The preschool does not offer an official ‘rest time’. Throughout the day, children are offered a balance of active experiences and quieter, more restful things, less taxing on a young person’s developing “interpersonal skills”. Soft pillows in a quiet nook are always available to a sleepy child and individual children avail themselves of these from time to time. You may find your child falls asleep in the car on the way home from Kinma or falls asleep much earlier on Kinma nights than on other nights.
Will Kinma Preschool children be ready to transition to Primary?
- Yes. Kinma Preschool children are gently supported to transition into Primary through a gradual, personalised process. In Term 4, they begin visiting the Primary space, meeting teachers, connecting with older buddies, and joining in activities. By the time they move up, they feel confident, familiar, and ready to begin the next stage of their learning.
- Throughout Preschool, children develop strong foundations in thinking, problem-solving, communication, and social skills through play-based, child-led learning. These experiences prepare them to engage, collaborate, and thrive as they move into the next stage of their Kinma journey.
Is Kinma a Steiner or Montessori School?
Kinma is not a Steiner or Montessori school. Like Montessori, we value independence and learning through experience. Like Steiner, we nurture creativity and imagination. Kinma’s philosophy is distinct: we offer a progressive, child-centred education encouraging flexible and self-directed learners with programs that have evolved for more than 50 years.
FAQs: Primary
Common questions, answered
Common questions, answered
Who does Kinma appeal to?
- Kinma parents are a diverse group who cannot be categorised into a particular occupation, culture, educational background or lifestyle. There are professionals, academics, artists, students, teachers, trades-people, writers, stay-at-home parents, executives and small business owners (just to name a few!).
- Kinma parents do share some common beliefs. For example: they want an educational environment that adapts to the individual needs of their child; they are interested in life skills as well as academic skills; they want their child to discover and never lose the wonder of learning; they are looking for a sense of community and the opportunity to be meaningfully involved in their child’s school.
At what age can children start at Kinma Primary?
Children are welcome to start primary school the year they turn five following NESA guidelines for age requirements and they generally continue until they turn 12 years. At Kinma, we group children by age rather than grade, as our philosophy and learning outcomes are guided by individual interest and ability, not the traditional age/grade structure.
Is it true that children can play all day at Kinma?
- Play IS highly valued at Kinma. But don’t worry – the good news is that your child can play and learn at the same time! Traditionally there has been a separation between play and learning in our schools. Learning happened in the classroom. Play happened in the playground, after lunch. This separation of play and learning goes against all the theoretical principles of child development and learning.
- If you study education or child development today you learn that play is essential to learning. For example, it is through play that children construct knowledge; refine their learning; develop creativity and imagination and gain control and confidence. If we have this knowledge it makes sense for a school to embrace play as part of it’s curriculum.
- Unfortunately, implementing theory into practice takes time. When Kinma led the way over 50 years ago, mainstream schools were still not giving children much opportunity for structured or unstructured play.
- Today, most schools recognise the importance of play. However the wheels of change are slow in a big machine like the Department of Education so they still have some catching up to do! Consequently you will notice a greater emphasis at Kinma on things like:
• Active, hands-on learning
• Meaningful, relevant learning experiences
• Interactive teaching and co-operative learning
• Creating indoor and outdoor environments rich in opportunities to explore & create - It should also be said that at Kinma children cannot spend every day playing, isolated from their friends or their learning needs. While we value play, it is used as a means of achieving the NSW curriculum outcomes and learning valuable life lessons and skills. At Kinma, we aim for balance and harmony and the individual needs of the child in everything we do.
If the children have so much fun, will my child still learn to read, write and learn maths concepts?
- Yes. Everything that happens at Kinma is grounded in a strong knowledge of how children learn and develop. With decades of experience in education, children are confident learners that are often learning beyond their stage or being supported with where they are at.
- We focus on the children’s growth in all areas of learning. Celebrating the progressions and encouraging through the “learning wobbles” of new content and topics.
- Kinma children achieve the same NSW Curriculum outcomes as measured by mainstream schools (we are a registered primary school, excelling in the same standards and outcomes). By making learning creative, engaging and facilitating children learning at their own pace, Kinma kids often love coming to school, love learning and tend to learn quickly and easily.
How does Kinma help children in the transition between preschool and primary school?
Kinma has a strong transition program for young children entering the primary school. It is our aim to make the transition a gentle one which supports the children and their families and takes care of their very individual needs. Transitions are always easier with longer-term experience and stability, therefore if you are considering Kinma for your child, we encourage enrolment at Preschool as early as practical.
Children visit the primary extensively throughout Term 4.
- Most schools have an orientation day at the end of the year to help children become familiar with the school environment. At Kinma the new cohort of primary children visit the primary classroom for increasing periods of time a couple of times a week. In this way, they get to know their future teacher and classmates and become familiar with the rhythm of life at school. This makes for a gentle transition period.
Parents can help their child settle in at school
- There is no drop, kiss and leave policy at Kinma. Parents are encouraged to stay in the classroom for as long as their child needs to help them feel safe, settled, and secure in the classroom and the daily routine.
Children can start with a shorter week
- Starting school can be an overwhelming and tiring experience for some children. Tired children will not have the energy or motivation to get the most from their school day. A day at home to recharge their batteries helps to make the beginning of school a happy, positive and successful experience.
How can Kinma do things that other schools can't?
We have small classes that can tailor for individual learning needs and interests. We don’t expect that all children will be learning and achieving exactly the same thing at the same time.
Why does Kinma have mixed age classes?
- School is one of the few places in society that divides us from our peers on the basis of age. Kinma creates a more authentic and traditional social environment where classes are structured in a similar way to that of a family or workplace.
- In the “community classes” children of different ages, experiences and abilities work together in small groups and engage in learning activities planned with their teacher. Learning occurs in a variety of surroundings from the whole class to small groups and individual settings. Children work with each other, developing and sharing knowledge, testing theories and reflecting on their learning. Teachers work as facilitators of this social learning process, monitoring group and individual development.
- Benefits of mixed-age classes;
• Children learn to work collaboratively; they can take the role of ‘student’ or ‘teacher’ with their peers.
• Research indicates that children who have participated in mixed age classes continue to be more pro-social and less aggressive.
• The children are grouped flexibly according to the needs of the learning community e.g. their interests, competencies, a specific learning need or social skills development.
• The child’s individuality is met through small flexible groups which allows the teachers to build on children’s competencies and interests.
• The children have the chance to learn in a way that meets their own learning style rather than a one size fits all approach to education.
• Children learn from one and other, the teacher, parents and the environment. Rather than a sterile silent classroom, a child’s environment and learning is enhanced by movement and interaction.
What happens to students after Kinma?
- Kinma provides children with a strong academic, emotional, and social foundation. Along with the important basic skills, Kinma children take with them a love of learning, a strong sense of self and well developed thinking and communication skills. Following their Kinma education students select a wide variety of high schools to suit their individual needs and interests, and adapt to different settings extremely well.
- Kinma children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning, actions and behaviour. The small size of the school reflects “real life” situations, with relationship, learning and life skills developed in a caring, safe community.
- Many Kinma students have chosen to continue their education in colleges and universities all over the country, and abroad. Many have entered directly into the worlds of business, trades, arts, crafts, and technical vocations.
- Former Kinma students see themselves as confident and competent members of society, capable of defining meaningful goals for their lives and finding ways to achieve them.
- For more information on what happens to students after Kinma, please visit our alumni page.
Do students have access to technology at Kinma, and how is it used?
- At our school, we integrate technology in age-appropriate and meaningful ways to support and enhance student learning.
- Group 1 (Early Years): Our youngest learners are introduced to technology in a supportive and purposeful manner. Devices are used as a tool to extend learning—such as looking up information relevant to classroom discussions or topics of interest.
- Groups 2 & 3: Classrooms in Groups 2 and 3 are equipped with interactive smart boards, which are used daily by both teachers and students to support a wide range of educational activities.
- Group 2 (middle group): students have access to shared laptops, where they begin to develop essential digital skills, including guided research, basic word processing, and typing.
- Group 3 (Upper Primary): In the later years, each student has access to their own laptop. They use a variety of educational software and online tools to conduct research, collaborate on projects, and present their learning in creative and engaging ways.
- While we embrace the use of technology as a valuable learning tool, we also place a strong emphasis on the importance of handwriting. We believe that writing by hand is vital for cognitive development and remains a foundational part of our teaching approach. Technology is then used to complement and extend this learning.
Is Kinma a Steiner or Montessori School?
Kinma is not a Steiner or Montessori school. Like Montessori, we value independence and learning through experience. Like Steiner, we nurture creativity and imagination. Kinma’s philosophy is distinct: we offer a progressive, child-centred education encouraging flexible and self-directed learners with programs that have evolved for more than 50 years.
