510 Hagley Avenue, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011
We are a community based, not-for-profit preschool is located within Hagley College grounds near Christchurch Hospital and Hagley Park. We offer affordable, flexible care and education for children 0-6 years with small group sizes and high adult to child ratio's.
Our culturally and linguistically diverse preschool community caters for tamariki and whānau from the wider residential community, the Christchurch city central business district and children of Hagley Community College staff and students.
LEARNING PROGRAMME
A separate under 2 learning environment offers this age group specialised care and attention, with ratios of 1 teacher to 3 children and a maximum group size of 12 children. All teachers are ECE qualified and have been with the preschool for over 10 years, offering consistency in relationships for both the children and their families.
Our curriculum follows the guidelines of Te Whāriki, the NZ early childhood curriculum. Children benefit from having supervised freedom to explore their large playroom and outdoor playground, with access to a wide variety of resources designed to stimulate their curiosities and senses. Teachers are always present to interact sensitively with support and gentle guidance. Parents studying or working nearby are encouraged to drop in anytime to breastfeed their child or simply enjoy a few playful moments together.
SETTLING IN
The day you leave your child in someone else’s care is your child’s first step on the journey to emotional self-sufficiency. Some anxiety when you say goodbye is common for you both; it’s hard to say goodbye.
Spend time together at preschool getting to know the teachers, children and the routines. It might take several visits before you leave your child for the first, short time.
MEALS & ROUTINES
Separate sleep and changing rooms provide children privacy and a sense of homeliness during their most intimate routines. Teachers work closely with parents to mirror each child's familiar routines from home. The documentation of individual routines is accessible to parents each day.
Parents provide meals and snacks so that children's cultural and personal preferences are met. Meals can be heated on request and parents/ whanau are welcome to join their child at the kai table during meal times.
LEARNING PROGRAMME
We provide a play based programme through which children develop enjoyment for learning, ensuring a strong foundation for learning at school and throughout life. Our curriculum follows the guidelines of Te Whāriki, the NZ early childhood curriculum (2017). In a maximum group size of just 27 children with four teachers, tamariki can lead their own learning by making decisions about their play interests, including easy access between indoor and outdoor environments. With a large protected elm tree and native bush, our outdoor playground is like an oasis of natural play areas located to one side of the College carpark.
Our over two year old tamariki have the added benefit of learning experiences beyond the preschool gates as we regularly make the most of the wider College environment. We visit the library, attend art and drama productions, work in the vegetable garden, and use the grassy area for games and physical activity.
MEALS & ROUTINES
The daily schedule is shaped by 'what's on top' for tamariki so that they can actively pursue their learning without undue disruption. Tamariki can become deeply involved in activity and remain so for extended periods of time. A rolling morning kai time supports children's growing capacity to take responsibility for their own need for food and drink, under the sensitive guidance of a kaiako.
Parents/whānau provide meals and snacks so that children's cultural and personal preferences are met. Meals can be heated on request and parents/ whānau are welcome to join their child at the kai table during meal times.
Kaiako work with whānau to support tamariki as they learn to take responsibility for their toileting routines.
TRANSITION TO SCHOOL
Our learning programme equips tamariki with enhanced self esteem and positive attitudes toward learning so that they can confidently progress into the
schooling environment.
Kaiako work with parents/whānau and schools to make sure each child is supported as they adapt to the changes they experience when they make the move to their new
learning environment.
We make it a special time when tamariki leave preschool. Friends and kaiako acknowledge the child's special characteristics and share their best wishes for the child's next phase of their learning journey.
OUR VISION
Our vision is for Hagley Community Preschool to be an inclusive and vibrant learning community working together to nurture the capabilities and competence of our tamariki (children) as successful life long learners.
PHILOSOPHY
Te Whāriki, New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum (2017), guides our teaching and learning programme. Our teaching philosophy of learning through play, social interaction, and exploration supports our young learners to confidently make choices, solve problems, question and explore. We believe every child is a competent learner and communicator. Hagley preschool children develop respectful relationships, compassion, autonomy, and independence, ensuring a strong foundation for life-long learning.
Our commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi ensures Māori children are nurtured in their identity and that children of all cultures become familiar with the indigenous culture of Aōtearoa, New Zealand. We foster respect for cultural diversity through embracing and celebrating the cultural, social and language diversity of our whānau.
A culture of collaboration and inquiry underpins the relationships of all adults involved in supporting teaching and learning in the preschool, including the teaching team, management, the Trust Board, parents and whānau, Hagley College staff and all external agencies.
OUR VALUES
We aspire for Hagley preschool tamariki to uphold the values of:
Promoting sustainability and ecological awareness.
Developing a relationship with Papatūānuku.
Valued contributors and responsible global citizens.
Confident communicators in all ways- languages, expression, artistic and creative.
Promoting care for others.
Develop social competence, have respect and empathy for others in a spiritually, emotionally and physically safe environment.
Empowering tamariki to be confident in themselves and to be curious with a love for learning.
Developing leadership, self-determination, agency,
Developing problem solving skills, working theories and to take risks in their learning.
Tamariki and whānau developing a strong sense of belonging here at Hagley and in Ōtautahi.
To be culturally proud and experience a local ECE curriculum design.
Promoting inclusive relationships,
Developing empathy and Tuakana Taina.
Developing a strong sense of cultural identity, connected to people, places and things.
"Enrolling my daughter in Hagley preschool was the best decision I have taken! All of you bring out the best in kids. We as working parents miss out these precious moments sometimes, but you
capture them for us and make them all the more special. Thanks once again for all the efforts taken."
"We really appreciate the flexibility and are not at all envious of friends/colleagues who have kids in more 'corporate' preschools and daycare"
“Hagley Preschool has teachers who truly care for the kids in the preschool. Both our children have learnt so much at Hagley. Thank you!”
“Lots of caring and love”
"I am very happy and appreciate how the teachers took care of my daughter, she enjoyed every moment”
“The teachers always praised the child in whatever they achieved”
“Lots of interesting activities and enjoyable outdoor fun”
“She was very happy and had lots of fun. Preschool taught her lots of good things that will help her in the future”
“I am very satisfied with what Hagley Preschool imparted to my child. She learned so many things here. Great teachers and thank you all so much”
“The exposure to other cultures is invaluable”
“My child was really well looked after”
