For parents choosing a nursery or kindergarten, the environment can shape far more than a child’s first school experience. It can influence confidence, curiosity, independence and a lifelong attitude to learning.
That belief sits at the heart of Niwa Kindergarten, a new early years school opening in Spring 2027 in Nairobi’s Kitisuru neighbourhood. Created by co-founders Mirali Shah and Rushabh Shah, Niwa offers a different vision for early childhood education. Rather than preparing children for the next stage as quickly as possible, the school aims to protect childhood while building strong foundations for lifelong learning.
Drawing on backgrounds in finance and agriculture, the founders explain why they believe young children thrive when adults create the right conditions for growth instead of rushing development.
NIWA Kindergarten – Exterior
Why Niwa Kindergarten Was Created
The founders openly acknowledge that their careers did not point towards education.
Between them, they have spent years working in finance and agriculture across East Africa. However, they believe both industries taught lessons that naturally led them to early years education.
Agriculture showed them that growth cannot be rushed. Instead, success comes from creating the right environment and allowing development to happen naturally. Meanwhile, finance taught them to recognise the gap between what society values and what is actually delivered.
Looking at Nairobi’s early years sector, they saw that gap becoming increasingly clear.
While many schools promote play-based learning, they believe childhood is still often shaped around preparing children for the next educational milestone instead of valuing childhood itself.
As they explain,
“People ask us, why a kindergarten, and why now? The honest answer is that the two worlds are less far apart than they look. Agriculture teaches you that you cannot rush a growing thing, you can only build the right conditions around it and trust the process. Finance teaches you to spot the gap between what a market says it values and what it delivers. Put those two lessons together, look closely at early years education in Nairobi, and Niwa becomes almost inevitable.”
A School Designed Around Childhood
Location played an important role in shaping the vision.
The school is being built on nearly an acre of land along Kinanda Road in Kitisuru, where a natural stream runs through the garden. According to the founders, the landscape inspired the school before practical considerations such as catchment areas or nearby international schools.
The purpose-built campus will cover approximately 1,500 square metres and has been designed so children, including babies from six months old, can spend significant time outdoors throughout the year.
Rather than asking children to fit into an existing model, every part of the environment has been planned around how young children naturally learn, play and explore.
How Niwa Kindergarten Approaches Early Learning
The educational approach combines the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with Reggio Emilia-inspired principles.
Together, these approaches place importance on independence, curiosity, relationships and child-led learning while providing structured developmental milestones. The founders describe three guiding principles that shape the school. They aim to protect childhood, build strong foundations and nurture future-ready minds. Instead of teaching resilience directly, they believe children develop confidence by having space to solve problems independently, supported by caring adults. A typical day has also been intentionally designed to reduce pressure.
Children arrive gradually over an hour, allowing each child to settle comfortably. Learning combines small group teaching with child-led exploration, language-rich play and regular outdoor experiences. Fresh fruit snacks may be prepared together as part of the day’s activities. Music, physical education and art are delivered by specialist teachers throughout the week. Lunch is shared family style before children enjoy outdoor play and rest. Younger children nap, while older children spend quiet time reading or completing puzzles.
The day finishes calmly with stories, reflection and individual family departures rather than strict routines marked by bells.
Building the Right Team
Launching a new school has brought its own challenges. Securing land, completing construction, obtaining registrations and county licensing, and recruiting experienced educators have all required careful planning. However, the founders say people have remained their highest priority.
The founding leadership includes Victoria, Founding Head of Nursery, who brings two decades of EYFS experience across three continents. Early Years Consultant Rachael contributes more than 30 years of experience, working alongside her wider team to prepare the school for opening. The founders believe exceptional educators have the greatest influence on children’s experiences.
As they explain, buildings can always be improved, but the adults who spend every day with children shape everything.
What Families Can Expect
Niwa Kindergarten will welcome children aged six months to six years from Spring 2027.
The first families to join will become part of the school’s founding cohort, with intentionally small class sizes designed to give every child individual attention.
Parents will also have the opportunity to help shape the school’s culture during its earliest years. The founders hope every family feels an immediate sense of belonging from their first visit.
As they explain, their aim is simple.
“We want a parent to feel the moment they walk in. That their child belongs. That they can safely leave their children in our care, and that their children will come out stronger.”
Ultimately, the founders believe childhood should not be hurried. Instead, they hope Niwa Kindergarten will offer children time, space and trust to develop naturally in an environment built around their needs.
Families interested in joining the founding cohort or arranging a site visit can register their interest through the school’s website.
Building Better Beginnings for Every Child
The conversations around early childhood education are changing across many countries, where educators increasingly recognise the importance of play, wellbeing and child-centred learning alongside academic readiness.
Niwa Kindergarten contributes to that wider discussion by reminding families that strong educational foundations begin with relationships, curiosity and a carefully designed environment. For parents exploring different approaches to early years education, the school offers an example of how thoughtful design, experienced educators and respect for childhood can work together to support children’s long-term development.
