Our Planning Philosophy

Planning reflects the principles of Te Whaariki by responding to children's interests and funds of knowledge. Through reciprocal relationships we recognise the direction their learning wants to take.

This is a co-constructive process in which the child and the teacher work together to extend learning exploration and complexity.  We encourage families/whanau to contribute and support this learning process.

Our curriculum is grounded in socio-cultural theory which recognises the importance of social and cultural interactions and experiences of the wider community to a child's learning.

Our planning is illustrated through the analogy of splashes and ripples:  Splashes being the first impact and ripples being the exciting spin-offs.  Somethimes the ripples will merge.

Current Learning

What an exciting start to the year!  The children have come back with wonderful ideas and interests to explore.

The Torbay Cafè is open for business - "only for children, not for adults!"  We have been exploring the different aspects of the cafè culture, in the sand, dough table, outdoor area as well as experimenting with making cupcakes and fluffies!  As the play evolves, we are extending on the provocations, right down to the busy and important kitchen hands.  Some of the children are really good at sewing on the old machine and they have made a bunting to help with marketing.  All maths, and literacy has taken off, with menus being written and money changing hands.  "Did you know you need a number of your table so the lady knows where to bring the coffee."

Bee's are buzzing in our gardens around the centre and we have a bee expert in our teaching team.  The children have planted flowers to attract the bees and help with pollination of our truit trees and we have been exploring what happens in a hive.  We are just in the process of purchasing a bumble bee hive to see how these wonderful bees live.  Lucky for us the bumble bee is the more gentle of the stingers and there are less living in the hive.

With the summer months to enjoy, some children have found an interest in boats.  They have been exploring what materials float and what doesn't.  This determines what materials they use to make their boats.  They found out that cardboard gets soggy and sinks but wood and plastic are fantastic, so the children are making rafts and role playing water skiing from behind our boat in the playground.  We really like fishng and the children are very aware of water safety.

So much to do - so much to explore!  You can see more in our photogallery.