Our Philosophy
Children are at the heart of the matter
Ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa - Children are at the heart of the matter
Our centres culture is based on a foundation of love and kindness, and we believe that fostering strong, trusting, respectful and reciprocal relationships is the foundation for living and learning.
Whanaungatanga - Relationships
We believe the relationship is all, and in the strength of the tapa toru (triangle) of kaitiaki, tamaiti and whanau, and the transfer of trust between them. This underpins the value of why we place building relationships as our primary focus. This provides our Nurturing Hearts community with a sense of belonging.
Whakamana - Empowerment
We trust the children to become capable and competent directors of their own learning through exploring open-ended resources, experiences and opportunities. Our curriculum then empowers the child to learn and grow by supporting them to become inner-directed and competent learners.
Kotahitanga - Holistic Development
We see Nurturing Hearts as a family and a home. We support children’s learning through experiences and involvement in all aspects of daily life and living. Our curriculum reflects the holistic way that children learn and grow through acknowledging and valuing each child and their learning as unique.
Taiao – Environment
We set our place up to reflect the world we want to live in; beautiful, calm, refreshing, eco-friendly, inviting and full of wonder and opportunity.
How we deliver our philosophy:
Ko te tamaiti te putake o te kaupapa - Children are at the heart of the matter:
- We show love and kindness as we share care moments.
- Our relationship is reciprocal and respectful.
- We are here for the children; we are present for them, we listen to them, we trust them and we respond to them.
- Our environment is designed for them and we put children first.
Whanaungatanga - Relationships:
We don’t enrol a child, we welcome a family.
We are responsive and caring in relationships with tamariki.
We focus with a primary care/key teacher approach - promoting consistency and security for children and families.
Whakamana – Empowerment:
- We provide an environment with open ended resources and loose parts which extend learning and don’t limit it.
- PLAY underpins our curriculum, and both children and adults demonstrate a passion to explore and learn.
- We regularly hold excursions, following the ideas from the children on where they would like to go.
- We reflect on the provision, respond to the children’s interests and where they want to take their learning. We follow their lead, support their ideas and offering them support with how to get to where they want to go, but allowing them to find a path to get there themselves.
- We have a flexible timetable so as not to interrupt children’s flow.
- We believe learning, leadership and responsibility should be shared amongst everyone in the Nurturing Hearts community, including teachers, parents, whanau, children and others.
- We provide a ‘same - same’ approach, meaning that the setup, expectations and approach of the kaitiaki are the same for and from all.
Kotahitanga - Holistic Development:
- We set up homelike rhythms and rituals which promote an understanding of care and contribution, like putting bins out, setting the table, folding washing and feeding the garden.
- We celebrate birthdays, graduations and transitions in a consistent and predictable routine that is the same for all, as well as including special features for them.
- We strive to foster each child’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and cultural well-being, within an environment that allows space and time for children to grow and develop naturally.
- We show children how to learn to take care of and look after others as well as themselves.
- We encourage the learning experience of living.
Taiao – Environment:
- Caring for our environment starts at our centre.
- We Recycle what we can, we use our food scraps in the worm farm, we preserve water by providing alternatives to daily water play, our excess water goes to our plants, we enjoy our food from the garden, we give sustainable gifts to our children in celebrations, we encourage waste free lunches.
- Much of our learning resources are recycled materials. We source good quality second hand items, reuse materials for loose parts, junk modelling and carpentry, and so on.