Small Kauri Early Childhood Education Centre

General information

At Small Kauri Early Childhood Education Centre we provide quality education that puts the learning and development of your child first.

Our Teachers Linda, Rosy, Pubi, Krista, Binita, Ake, Niky, Aysha, Sue are all Qualified, Registered Early Childhood Teachers. Megan who has recently joined our team, while Niky is on maternity leave, holds a Certificate in Early Childhood Education (Level 4) and is in the process of completing her formal Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching).

We staff well above the number of teachers required and funded by the Ministry of Education, ensuring lower child to teacher ratios. Allowing for more opportunities for one on one and focused group learning.

We are based right in the heart of Mangere Bridge. Establishing ourselves as a part of the community, we regularly make walking trips with the children to the local supermarket to purchase ingredients for cooking and baking projects. We visit the local hardware to get supplies for our building projects. Walk down to the park and beach, or up the mountain to explore our natural environment. As well as walks to the local Library, and trips to Mangere Bridge School for Four Year Old Friday.

Our learning is interest based and child-centred. Learning between the ages of 0-7 has been shown to be most beneficial for building your child’s passion and interest in learning when children are allowed to be actively engaged in the direction it goes. We do not set ‘activities’ but instead inspire children to learn through playful experiences. What this means is providing resources for open play and engagement. Asking questions and offering extensions on thinking. Through play our children develop the essential skills to move on to school; numeracy, literacy, science, arts, technology. Receiving ongoing positive feedback from the local schools about the competency of Small Kauri Children when entering school.

We have a dedicated arts, carpentry and upcycling area. Large outdoor areas with fruit trees, vegetable gardens, sandpit and plenty of room for play and exploration.

We are a mixed age setting, within a smaller centre. This ensures our teachers get to know you, your child and whaanau well. Building long term stable relationships and minimising the stress that can be caused by multiple room changes.

A mixed age setting allows children to not be separated from, and to have continued interactions with siblings and other family members. It allows children to build relationships with peers of different ages and develop empathy through the caring for others. It allows children of different ages and stages to learn from and assist those of different abilities to them.

We provide teaching and learning experiences that are in accordance with the early childhood curriculum and recognised in New Zealand as best practice and supported by current research. A curriculum approach which links into the New Zealand Curriculum Framework and is in line with the key competencies of the latest best practice Primary School teaching approach.

We are establishing the basics for children’s on going education. This is education for their future. We support children becoming “competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society” (Te Whaariki, Ministry of Education, 1996).

We would love for you to come and have a look, and we look forward to meeting you.

The New Zealand Education Review Office provides the following web page as Guidance

What to look for in an early childhood education service

http://www.ero.govt.nz/publications/early-childhood-education-a-guide-for-parents/what-to-look-for-in-an-early-childhood-education-service/