Our Approach
At Early Years, we embrace an educational philosophy that recognises children as natural investigators and researchers, seeking to understand the complexities of life and reality. Our approach to education is dynamic and innovative, primarily driven by the unique passions and curiousities of the children themselves.
We believe that children are naturally inclined to explore and make sense of the world around them. Our teachers act as guides, observing, documenting, and partnering with children in their learning journey. By recognising each child's individual learning disposition, our teachers tailor learning experiences to encourage questioning, theorising, testing, and sharing of discoveries. Working in small groups, teachers collaborate with children on engaging projects that foster deeper understanding and creativity.
Collaboration and connection with the broader community and families are integral to our approach. Through regular intergenerational interactions and shared experiences, children develop respect, empathy, and a sense of belonging.
Our environment is considered the "toru kaiako" (third teacher), carefully designed to inspire and engage children. With an emphasis on aesthetics, organisation, and a homely atmosphere, our space encourages exploration, creativity, and representation across various art forms, including drama.
We incorporate learning opportunities in nature, both within our space and in the wider community, to foster resilience, confidence, and a deeper connection to the environment.
Māori tikanga (cultural practices) and whanonga pono (values) form the cultural foundation of our centre, with te reo Māori (Māori language) encouraged as part of everyday communication. We celebrate linguistic diversity, recognising the importance of language in preserving culture and identity. Songs and stories from diverse cultural backgrounds within our community are embraced and shared, enriching our learning environment with a tapestry of cultural perspectives and experiences.
Our Curriculum
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Spiral Curriculum: Our curriculum adopts a spiral approach, revisiting topics in increasing complexity over time, moving from enactive to iconic to symbolic representations. This iterative process ensures deeper understanding and mastery of concepts.
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Integrated Curriculum: We offer an integrated curriculum that connects various subject areas, fostering a holistic understanding of topics and their real-world applications.
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Learning by Doing: Emphasising experiential learning, we believe in hands-on experiences where children actively engage in problem-solving and practical activities to deepen their understanding.
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Valuing Entrepreneurship: We cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging creativity, innovation, and initiative among our learners.
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Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on developing critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities, empowering children to analyse, evaluate, and devise solutions to real-world challenges.
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Group Work and Social Skills: Collaboration and teamwork are central to our approach, promoting the development of social skills, communication, and cooperation through group projects and activities.
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Focus on Understanding and Action: We prioritise meaningful learning experiences where understanding and application are emphasised over rote memorisation, fostering active engagement and application of knowledge.
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Community Service and Social Responsibility: Education extends beyond the classroom as we integrate community service and service-learning projects into our curriculum, instilling values of social responsibility and citizenship.
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Personalised Learning: Recognising the unique strengths, interests, and goals of each individual, our approach to learning is highly personalised, tailoring experiences to meet the needs of every learner.
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Future-Oriented Curriculum: We shape our curriculum by anticipating the skills and competencies needed in our future society, preparing children to thrive in an ever-changing world.
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Varied Learning Resources: We favour of a diverse range of learning resources, including hands-on materials, technology, literature, and real-world experiences.
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Lifelong Learning and Social Skills: We foster a culture of lifelong learning and social development, equipping children with the skills, attitudes, and habits necessary for success in school and beyond.
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Assessment through Child Projects: Assessment is based on the evaluation of child projects and productions, providing authentic and meaningful feedback on children's learning and progress.
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Intrinsic Motivation: Activities are designed to harness children's intrinsic motivation, aligning with their interests and passions to cultivate a love for learning and exploration.
Our Values
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Community
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Child-led
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Collaborative
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Connected
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Cultural