A non-profit kindergarten on Fergusson Street in Tokoroa, David Henry Kindergarten is one of the 47 kindergartens run by Central Kids across 26 towns in the central North Island, a group that has been providing early childhood education since 1951. Its large outdoor playground is open to tamariki at all times, and wet weather gear is provided so children can still get outside in bad weather. Nature is a big part of the day here. The children grow sunflowers and gardens, help with worm farms and take regular trips to the bush, the marae, the library and the community gardens. Learning follows Te Whāriki, the early learning curriculum, and the kaiako form close relationships with tamariki and their whānau.
The kindergarten has a whānau room used by speech and language therapy, TCOSS, and hearing and vision testing, so families can access those services in a quiet room on site. Whānau are invited in before a child starts and the kaiako keep close links with new entrant teachers to help with the move to school. Kai is provided for all tamariki through the KidsCan ECE Food for Kids programme. One parent wrote that the kaiako were welcoming and kind, and that the grass and equipment outside gave an adventurous child plenty to explore.