New Brighton Community Preschool & Nursery

Our Philosophy

Education, wellbeing, and care of our tamariki are very important and we believe that early childhood education plays a big role in raising resilient future adults. Learning should be fun and happens in a play-based environment. We see a positive attitude toward learning as a foundation for fulfilling great potential. It takes place through relationships and within trustful relationships tamariki can face and triumph over challenges, embrace opportunities and place increasing value on their own capability. We pride ourselves in embracing multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion within our preschool and nursery. A lot of our tamariki come from different parts of the world. Kaiako (teachers) encourage our bilingual tamariki and their whānau (family) to share their language and culture within the preschool and nursery for everybody. We believe this is so important to create awareness of different cultures in our world.

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Our Values

Our centre is guided by core values which are based on New Zealand´s unique Māori culture, allowing us to integrate our indigenous language in the thoughtfully prepared learning environment for our tamariki.

The core values which underpin the actions we take and decisions we make are…

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Whakawhanaungatanga

We focus on nurturing and strengthening relationships and being connected, actively engaging in respectful partnerships with whānau and our community. We aim to provide a place to join together, create community, recognise and affirm diversity and find acceptance. We prioritise getting to know each whānau, we strive to be responsive to their needs, expectations and the aspirations for their tamariki.

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Manaakitanga

We show service through care, respect, hospitality, integrity and sincerity. We nurture relationships and respect the mana of others. We appreciate that every tamariki is an integral part of a whānau and they come to this place with their own culture, language and identity and bring with them knowledge and experience of their world.

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Programme | Akoranga

We believe that tamariki need the opportunity to play and explore the environment. As teachers, we will provide opportunities that enable each tamaiti (child) to reach their full potential as individuals. Kaiako will facilitate the learning of each child’s unique skills and interest within a richly resourced environment that challenges and extends their learning. We refer to this as child directed learning. Children will have opportunities to experience their own and other cultures and to explore the wider community.

To holistically support children to be confident and competent lifelong learners we need to find ways to keep everything connected, so embedded in our programme is the desire for continuity for children. With strong mutually supportive relationships we believe that continuity can be strengthened for children. With this tamariki are more able to explore the true potential of learning. In turn, parents and kaiako can understand children’s learning better and contribute more authentically to children’s experiences at the centre. At the same time teachers are motivated and inspired by the work they are doing and are more focused, thus creating the best possible situation for all.

“In order to co-construct meaning and understanding, the teacher needs to become aware of what the child thinks and knows and understands, and to engage with this body of knowledge. The child’s own expertise is acknowledged as being as valid as the teachers.”

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