Te Papapa Preschool Philosophy

We offer your child and family a safe, nurturing, stimulating educational environment where children can develop to their highest potential. We believe that children learn naturally through play and we aim to foster each child’s emotional, social, physical, intellectual and cultural well-being. Our programme follows Te Whariki the National Early Childhood Curriculum document which aims to ensure that children:

 

“Grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society”.

 

As a team we believe Early Childhood should be fun; it’s a time for exploration, discovery and active learning.  It is an important time where lifelong attitudes and skills are taking shape. It is essential for staff to work alongside children getting to know them, their temperaments and quirks. In providing a secure, fun loving environment it is essential for teachers to work alongside children challenging, supporting and extending them. Children are encouraged to make their own choices and take responsibility for themselves, each other and our Preschool. Our professional teaching team support and guide children’s learning at play and in planned and emergent learning experiences. Teachers ensure that children’s learning is not limited by gender, ability, age, ethnicity or background. We encourage children to learn about and understand cultural diversity of their local community and wider world.

 

We value a real partnership with families and Whanau and encourage your involvement in our programme and
decision-making concerning your child. Our team recognise that parents and whanau are primary to children’s well-being and we work in partnership to achieve positive learning outcomes for tamariki. With the first years in life being the most critical to brain development, we partner with parents and whanau to give our children the best start in life. We acknowledge that each child is unique with individual needs and abilities that may differ from others and recognise that there can be wide variations of development and readiness between children. Therefore we aim to provide experiences that build on each other’s strength’s and interests through opportunities to explore and experiment, in an environment where children are supported with their own learning.

 

At Te Papapa Preschool children will have the opportunity to:

· Learn with and alongside others.

· Feel good about who they are as individuals.

· Develop a sense of belonging and independence.

· Develop their physical abilities.

· Be involved in creative activities like art, musical dance and movement. ā

· Work within acceptable limits and boundaries.

· Develop language and listening skills.

· Look after themselves, others and the environment.

· Build on early maths, science and reading skills at their own pace.

· Problem solve, negotiate and challenge themselves.

· Learn about, appreciate and respect individual choices.

· Learn to assert themselves and develop social/emotional competency.

· Experience a smooth and successful transition to school.