Hikurangi Kindergarten Team Philosophy

HIKURANGI KINDERGARTEN TEAM VISION

HIKURANGI KINDERGARTEN TEAM PHILOSOPHY

At Hikurangi Kindergarten we believe that respectful warm relationships are core to our centre philosophy and way of being. Our philosophy is based on the early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki.

We strongly believe that it is essential that children and their whānau experience an environment that upholds and values children’s rights to freely explore in a safe and secure environment where they can learn and develop with confidence at their own pace. Along with the children, we respect and care for the natural resources within our community and wider world.

We recognise individual strengths and cultures of children and whānau. Wewill work with and alongside children to extend these through a child-centred, play-based programme.

We seek to empower children to make positive life choices and believe it is important to nurture the dimensions of health, physical and emotional well-being for children to reach their full potential.

We promote and uphold the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by promoting a bi-cultural learning environment that recognises and celebrates Te Ao Māori.We celebrate Māori success and acknowledge our tamariki Māori as leaders in their own learning journey.

We are committed to professional development as a team. We will reflect and review our programme and teaching practice regularly.

We value and welcome whānau contribution and acknowledge their aspirations for their child’s learning and development. We strive to provide children and their whānau with a warm and inviting environment.

At Hikurangi Kindergarten teachers will:

-Take time to build warm reciprocal relationships by being available to children and whānau throughout each day, having regular whānau events and creating opportunities to extend these

-able to children relationships outside of kindergarten hours.

-Provide a range of resources to promote safe and secure challenging play.

-We value papatúanuku by promoting practices. This includes recycling, gardening and caring for our animals.

-Use Incredible Years Teaching Strategiesto guide appropriate practice around developing children’s social and emotional competencies.

-Engage in professional dialogue through regular staff meetings and planning sessions and accessing any outside Professional Development where appropriate.

-Be reflective, regularly reviewing teaching practices, the environment, and learning opportunities available to children.