71 Vivian Street, Burwood, Christchurch 8083
We are a small centre that caters for up to 8 under 2's and 24 over 2's. We provide an atmosphere that is rich in quality interactions and have an outstanding natural environment.
Little Explorers Preschool is committed to maintaining a stimulating programme that is flexible to the needs of our children and their whanau.
The curriculum is based on the Principles of Te Whariki - the Early Childhood Curriculum and reflects the holistic way that children learn.
The philosophy of the centre is that children learn through active exploration of the environment. We believe in providing a richly resourced environment with qualified educators who support the children to develop their full potential.
When visiting Little Explorers Preschool, you will see our programming through displays and the interactions between children and their educators.
At Little Explorers we believe that all children benefit from a richly resourced environment that challenges and extends their learning. All children are valued and respected as unique individuals and given opportunities to become confident and competent learners. Children will be physically and emotionally safe within our environment and secure in their sense of belonging, facilitated by strong and nurturing relationships between children, teachers and families.
We believe that children need the opportunity to play and explore the environment in their own time and in their own way, including plentiful opportunities to explore the natural environment. We aim to instil in children a respect for the natural world and knowledge of their place in the wider world. We use sustainable practices like encouraging recycling, composting and having a worm farm. We grow food in our own vegetable garden and harvest eggs from our own chickens for baking and cooking in the centre. We also encourage empathy and caring through teaching children to care for our centre animals; fish, frog and chickens.
As teachers we will provide opportunities that enable each child to reach their full potential as individuals. Teachers will promote each child’s learning and development and support their unique skills and interests by facilitating a child-led programme. The needs and interests of individual children and small groups are regularly documented, assessed and planned for using learning dispositions and the strands of Te Whāriki, New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum.
We aim to equip children with the skills and knowledge they need to flourish in the next chapter of their lives, whether it is transitioning into the centre, from the nursery to the preschool or from the centre to school. As well using teaching strategies to promote age appropriate numeracy and literacy skills, we recognise the great importance of social competence, physical health and wellbeing and independence skills. Children are encouraged in their learning and development in a way that is meaningful to them.
We will honour the dual heritage of Aotearoa in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi to acknowledge and empower children and their whānau. To support this we will use te reo Māori (language) regularly, respect tikanga Māori (customs and protocols) and provide the children with experiences with natural resources. We will form receptive respectful relationships with children and their whānau, ensure that we hold high expectations of all children.
On going reflection and review of preschool policies, practices and objectives will enable us to meet the changing needs and aspirations of the preschool community.
Effective communication with family/whānau, management and teachers will ensure that everyone’s needs and aspirations are being met. We believe every child has the right to easily accessible quality childhood education provided by highly trained and skilled professionals.
We will acknowledge family/whānau diversity, working in partnership to promote children’s care and education. Family/whānau will be respected in a non-judgmental manner and supported when appropriate.
Children will have opportunities to experience their own and other cultures and to explore the wider community through excursions, special visits at the centre and positive links with nearby schools and community facilities.
"I love how the teachers take the time to talk to me when I come to pick my child up and report how they have been that day, what my child is doing well at. It makes it easier to leave my child all day when I know that they are safe with people that truly do care for them. I also really like your board that shows what the children have been up too, skills that have been noticed etc. Helps us as parents so we can carry on encouraging development in particular areas of interest when we get home :)"
- Anonymous
“Wow - every week I get such pleasure picking up Stella and learning about what she did in the morning. I always get a detailed run down of her adventures and funny things she has said. I always get told what she ate for lunch and we get to take home any of her crafts - this is very special so her Dad can see them too!”- Joanna Geary
Comments from our yearly survey question 'what we do well'
