Our Approach
Our vision is to grow curious, tenacious, questioning lifelong learners.
Our philosophy focuses on ways of being, knowing, doing and positioning. It seeks to encourage creativity, risk taking and exploration in a safe, caring and homely environment.
Values and Beliefs
Commitment to acknowledge the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua of Aotearoa.
Exploring opportunities to learn te reo, tikanga and te ao Māori become a natural learning disposition for kaiako.
We seek appropriate opportunities to have partnership with the local iwi and gain knowledge relevant to our turangawaewae and the uniqueness of our centre ingoa “Te Wharemarie Tamariki – The Children’s House of Peace”
Kotahitanga
We believe in kotahitanga (togetherness) as the strong foundation of a community childcare centre. Working together as a strong community leads to successful outcomes that enhance learning for all akonga. Having good relationships with whānau empowers children’s mana and it is evident by having displays of whanaungatanga at the centre. As a mixed age centre we cultivate a culture of tuakana-teina that encourages and promotes opportunties for tamariki to learn how to help, care, take responsibity and build relationships with others.
Diversity and our multicultural community
We appreciate the diversity of our whānau and welcome their significant contributions to the centre programme.
We celebrate and embrace together with our whānau different cultural celebrations throughout the year by sharing, learning and developing understanding of who we are as people.
How We Teach
Te Whaariki is the National Curriculm for Early Childhood in New Zealand and it guides us to create a robust and inclusive Local Curriculum called “FAUTASI” which means “Build it Together” These two documents support our process of Planning and Assessing children’s learning.
Through shared discussions of interests and strengths both at home and at the centre, kaiako and parents develop a Planning for Learning for each child for four months and then meet again for evaluation and more planning.
We work with private and government agencies which share their professional knowledge and expertise to help with our commitment to support children with additional learning needs. This includes professional guidelines, information, observations, workshops and planning meetings at the centre.
We also create opportunities to teach and extend the learning of children from Pasifika and Māori backgrounds by facilitating for all learners. We encourage aiga and whanau to share their stories and educate us about ways to support their aspirations for their children’s learning.
Our programme is underpinned by the principles of Te Whāriki:
Whakamana | Empowerment
Children will be empowered to learn and grow.
Kotahitanga | Holistic development
Children learn and grow in a holistic way. Their intellectual, social, cultural, physical, emotional and spiritual learning is interwoven across all their experiences.
Whānau tangata | Family and community
A child’s family, whānau and community are recognised as part of the learning experience.
Ngā hononga | Relationships
Children learn through positiveu relationships with people, places and things.