We believe providing a loving, fun, safe and stimulating environment that values and respects each child’s culture encourages our children to be competent and confident learners; healthy in mind, body and spirit.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is encompassed in our philosophy. Teachers, children and their families/whānau come from a variety of cultural backgrounds with a variety of languages spoken at home. As teachers, we respect and value our children's unique family culture and language through the spoken word and our daily routines (karakia, waiata and music); our environment (materials for displays, dress-ups, instruments and natural resources); and our curriculum planning. We are constantly working and reflecting on this through our training.
Positive Relationships - Tuakana teina
With our mixed age group of 2-5 year olds we believe it is important to encourage positive tuakana teina relationships between the older and younger children where they learn from each other. This also allows for siblings and cousins to attend together which provides a sense of belonging for them.
Curriculum - Te Whariki
Our curriculum is based on Te Whāriki. We focus on fostering children’s learning dispositions, skills and knowledge that form a strong foundation for their life-long learning.
Community learning opportunities
Our centre aims to have many learning opportunities to link with local community resources. We have visits from experts such as local police officers and librarians and through field trips to our local parks, shops, library, museums and the local school.
Empowerment
We believe it is important to empower everyone in our learning community. We empower each other as teachers by working collaboratively as a team to run the centre.
We empower the children here by involving them in our planning processes, allowing them to make decisions about what they want to do by making resources easily accessible and involving them in setting up and cleaning up their activities. We form a strong partnership with parents/whānau by gathering their aspirations and expectations for their children and work together to help children reach their full potential.
Education Programme
We aim to nurture and encourage each child’s thirst for knowledge by providing an exciting environment where they can explore and develop their interests. This results in children becoming confident and competent learners.
Our programme offers a variety of activities which cover a range of curriculum areas including puzzles, blocks, manipulative play, art, music, family play, books, playdough, sand and water play. We offer a balance of structured and free play period throughout the day.
Our daily programme provides opportunities for child initiated learning where children are encouraged to actively explore and experiment within the centre-environment – both indoors and outdoors.
In addition there are times where the children gather in small groups to engage in projects or teacher led activities. These “group times” provide opportunities for the children to experience success through developmentally appropriate activities. Our “four year old mat times” are specifically aimed at preparing your child for school.
Transition to school
We aim to ensure all children are ready for school. This is achieved through working with local primary schools and a variety of organisations within our community to ensure our children are comfortable within a school environment. Along with various programs such as lunch box day, your children’s teachers will work towards setting your child up to achieve and become lifelong learners.
We will also have further information on transitions to school that is provided to parents in the over threes room.