Early Learning Centre Philosophy

Highbury House is a home away from home where everyone is nurtured, loved and encouraged to grow and learn alongside others in a beautiful and calm environment. We value children as taonga (treasure) and view childhood as a time to slow down and to joyfully explore, inquire and wonder.

We value and prioritise:

• Social-Emotional competence – respect for ourselves and others; social and cultural awareness; fairness; relationships; effective communication; feeling secure, a shared understanding, well-being and a powerful sense of belonging for all, equitable and value-based practices, Growth mindset

• Family, community and connections– inclusiveness; key teacher relationships; mixed ages; whānau participation and partnership; social events; learning and growing together; culture, language and identity; connecting to home, nature and the wider community; authentic and deep relationships

• Dispositional learning through play – courage and curiosity (taking an interest), trust and playfulness (being involved), perseverance (persisting with difficulty, challenge and uncertainty), confidence (expressing a point of view or feeling), responsibility, rangatiratanga (self-determination/courage); whakatoi (cheekiness, curiosity, confidence); manaakitanga (supporting others); aroha (respect and loyalty); hūmārie (kindness) and whakahī (pride), reciprocity, creativity, imagination and resilience.

We create a centre culture and teaching and learning practices at Highbury House that:

• are underpinned by Te whāriki, the NZ Early Childhood Curriculum

• recognise that Māori are the first people of Aotearoa New Zealand and upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi

• weave te reo and tikanga into our curriculum in an authentic way

• are inquiry based and identify, support and extend children’s learning

• are intentional and well considered, supported by qualified kaiako who recognise the uniqueness of each child and their whānau and knows them well

• promote the use of open-ended resources and learning experiences that are challenging, real, relevant and rewarding

• support developing skills and love of literacy, math and science

• encourage story-telling; dramatic play and the arts

• promote physical capabilities, confidence and skills

• supports children to develop a strong learner identity

• are joyful, playful and often spontaneous

• promote a growth mindset and the development of powerful 21st century learners, thinkers and contributors