About Our School

"Education that honours every child’s enthusiasm for initiative, creativity, and social responsibility."

Our School

At Mount Kenya Waldorf School, we celebrate and nurture childhood through our distinctive educational philosophy. Our approach integrates learning with life, emphasizing holistic development over rote memorization. We cultivate a strong sense of community spirit, social responsibility, self-discipline, and order, empowering each child to thrive as a unique individual. Join us in fostering a rich educational journey that honors the essence of childhood and encourages lifelong growth.

Our Vision

To fulfill our commitment to the Nanyuki and Nyeri communities, Mount Kenya Waldorf School offers a diverse array of educational programs. From Parent & Child classes to toddler, preschool, and kindergarten programs catering to children aged 6 months to 6 years, as well as primary education spanning class 1 to 6, we strive to provide a holistic learning environment. Moreover, we organize enriching adult education workshops, festivals, and family fun days, fostering community engagement and lifelong learning.

Our Mission

We are dedicated to fostering a vibrant learning community that embraces a deep understanding of child development. We integrate intellectual pursuits with artistic expression and practical skills with aesthetic appreciation. Through this holistic approach, we empower our students to meaningfully engage with the world, nurturing a lifelong love for learning and exploration.

Waldorf child playing at festival

" If a young child has been able in his play… to give up his whole living being to the world around him… he will be able in the serious tasks of later life, to devote himself with confidence and power to the service of the world "

How do we acheive this ?

At the heart of Waldorf education is the recognition that children pass through distinct stages of development. Each segment of the curriculum corresponds directly in content and presentation to the stages of the growing child. Subjects and skills are introduced at the time when the child is most receptive to learning them. Subjects are learned holistically, not in isolation. The Waldorf curriculum uses an interdisciplinary approach, and carefully integrates academic, artistic and practical activity.

Our Classes

Waldorf kindergarten daisies class

The Daisies or Playgroup

Ages 18 Months - 2.5 years Old

In our Daisies Playgroup class, we encourage parents and family members to remain with their children, fostering mutual support through organized playgroups, parent discussion groups, and collaborative activities. For parents seeking to entrust their children to our care, our teachers create a nurturing and loving environment focused on wholesome sensory development through play and engaging activities. Initially, children attend the Playgroup accompanied by a familiar adult, guided into play by the teacher. This arrangement provides a sense of security for the child while allowing adults to share in their growth experiences. By the age of two and a half, children become familiar with both the environment and the teacher, facilitating a smooth transition for the adult to entrust their child to the teacher's care. Transition times vary for each child. At this stage, our activities primarily focus on developing gross motor skills, laying a strong foundation for further growth and learning.

The Sunflowers or Kindergarten Group

Ages 2.5 years old - 4 years old

In our Sunflower Kindergarten class, tailored for children aged two and a half to four years, we maintain a nurturing environment akin to home, akin to what was established in the Play Group. Here, structured activities are gradually introduced alongside creative play. Emphasizing the development of gross motor skills and fine hand movements, our activities are designed to support the physical growth of our young learners. As friendships naturally form, children begin to engage in social learning, fostering an awareness of both themselves and others.

waldorf kindergarten sunflower class
waldorf kindergarten students crafting class

The Roses or Kindergarten Transition

Ages 4 years old - 6 years old

In our Roses Transition Class, children enter a carefully designed environment encouraging playful exploration. We balance free play with structured activities, gradually focusing on fine motor skills to prepare for Year 1 of primary school. Kids stay until they're six, with a "Reception Group" year for extra support. Activities shift from free choice to guided, promoting a learning community through shared painting, drawing, and rhythmic movement. We prioritize readiness for Year 1, ensuring children are prepared physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Our curriculum emphasizes play, activity, and imitation, fostering a connection to nature and humanity. This enriches their educational journey as they move to Year 1 of primary school.

The Whistling-Thorns, Acacia's, Moringa's and Olive's or Primary Group (Class 1, 2, 3 & 4)

Ages 6 to 10 years old

In our Primary School, the curriculum is thoughtfully designed to build upon previous learning and address the inner changes experienced by the children. Each class forms a close-knit community, journeying together from childhood into adolescence under the guidance of their dedicated class teacher.

Central to our primary school curriculum are two fundamental principles: first, guiding the children according to the stages of their development, and second, paying close attention to teaching rhythms.

Our distinctive international curriculum provides an inspiring and nurturing education that caters to the needs of the "whole child" – academic, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

waldorf primary class group

Our Educational Approach

  • Provides children with the space to develop and grow in an environment which caters to their individual developmental needs.
  • Gives children room to learn by playing. Learn by doing. Learn by being.
  • Allows children to experience and grow in the real world.
  • Supports the development of all their senses in a balanced manner.
  • Strengthens and builds the children's social competency.
  • Instills self-discipline, structure and order while allowing each child to develop and prosper independently as an individual.
  • Places great value on the community as a whole, therefore allowing social responsibility to be absorbed and reflected in the children.
waldorf teacher and child

Our Teaching Methods

  • Circle time - involves songs, & finger games, rhymes & role-play, which enhances cognitive and motor development, as well as language development, social skills and discipline.
  • Indoor and outdoor creative free play - provides the foundation for learning, social life, self-regulation, creativity, imagination and flexibility.
  • Story telling - a rich art that conveys deep, genuine, and meaningful values from fables, traditional fairy tales, nature stories and Kenyan tales. in images stories bring to the children aspects of themselves, their lives, the worlds around them, and the road ahead.
  • Domestic arts – such as baking, gardening, washing dishes, preparing meals, setting tables, sweeping, cleaning and tidying build a deep respect and connection to work. Children learn to care for their environment while developing the vestibular system and proprioception.
  • Arts and crafts – painting, drawing, clay modeling, bead making, beading, felt making, wool dying, papier maché, wood crafts. To develop the cognitive and fine motor skills and a sense for aestetic value. to develop self expression and self awareness
  • Physical Activities – such as swimming, touch rugby, music games and yoga develop gross and fine motor skills and spatial orientation.
  • Community and nature trips – such as local farms, conservancies and children's homes, develop the ability to connect to and appreciate life beyond home and school.
waldorf students playing the flute

Teaching through concentrated main lesson blocks stands out as a cornerstone of Waldorf education, renowned for its effectiveness and efficiency. This approach enables educators to delve deeply into the curriculum while providing students with immersive experiences in each subject. By allowing topics to "rest" and then revisiting them later, either within the same year or in subsequent years, students gain fresh perspectives and renewed interest. This cycle of forgetting and remembering fosters deeper understanding and insight.

The intervals between main lesson blocks afford students the opportunity for gradual conceptual development and maturation. Knowledge, like a plant, requires time to take root, grow, and bear fruit. The structure of the main lesson ensures that students engage in a dynamic learning process, allowing concepts to flourish over time.

Typically spanning two hours each morning, a main lesson block unfolds over four to six weeks. Here are some examples of topics covered in various class years: