Why Choose Us?
EDUCATION REVIEW OFFICE REPORT
After ERO’s last visit to Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten in 2020 they reported that we are “very well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children”. Also from our 2020 ERO report: “Creative and thoughtfully presented indoor and outdoor areas prompt children’s exploration and discovery … as a result children are confident investigators who enthusiastically share their knowledge, ideas and theories about the world with teachers and other children.” Read our latest Education Review Office Report.
The Ministry of Education requires early childhood education centres to maintain a maximum ratio of 1 teacher for 10 children aged two years and above. The Ministry requires at least 50% of teacher hours to be undertaken by qualified staff. At Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten over 80% of the teacher hours are undertaken by qualified staff and we aim to maintain a teacher ratio of 1 teacher to 8 children.
OUR CREATIVE SPACE
“TELL ME, AND I’LL FORGET. TEACH ME, AND I’LL REMEMBER. INVOLVE ME AND I’LL LEARN” – BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
The studio is a magical space for in-depth investigation, thinking, and discovery. Here we work with small groups of 2-4 children at a time, encouraging them to express their ideas through a variety of art materials, tools and techniques. At Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten we are inspired by the Reggio Emilia idea that children have ‘100 languages’ to express themselves. We believe that every child is a creative child, full of potential, with the desire and right to make meaning out of life in many ways and using many languages.
ENVIROSCHOOL PHILOSOPHY
We were honoured to be chosen to take part in the Enviroschools programme in 2015. We encourage the children at Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten to be kaitiaki* who protect and nurture our environment so that it will in turn protect and nurture them. *Kaitiaki is the concept of guardianship, for the sky, the sea, and the land.
Being an Enviroschool means we are conscious of the environment in all we do. We look after our gardens and the worm farm together. We work together composting our food scraps, recycling where we can, and bringing waste-free lunches. We learn about the insects, birds, fish and animals that live in our local area. We run our Outdoor Explorers sessions so children can learn in an ‘outdoor classroom’.
Research shows that adults with a strong connection to nature usually had experiences in nature as children – often periods of self-directed play where they were able to spend long periods of time just ‘being’ in nature. These experiences have a life-long impact in creating a connection with nature. Richard Louv (2005) suggests that early nature experiences are essential if we are to produce future thinkers and change agents.
WEEKLY OUTDOOR EXPLORERS
At our unique outdoor sessions, children discover the natural world outside kindy. During the sessions, two Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten teachers and a group of older children (aged 3.5 to 5 years) walk to a nature reserve area close to the kindergarten, our ‘outdoor classroom’. Here children can explore our local environment, meet birds and insects, and jump in puddles! We have full sets of wet weather gear, including gumboots, for our little explorers to use, so we can always get out and about, whatever the weather.
Our Kaiwhakahaere Jacqui Lees started the Outdoor Explorers sessions out of a desire to introduce our children to the beauty and wonder of nature. “We are committed to developing a love of nature in our community and in our children. It is an integral part of all that we do here.”
REGGIO EMILIA INSPIRED
At the heart of the Reggio Emilia approach is the idea of the child as empowered, creative, full of potential, and capable of building their own theories. We encourage children to wonder, explore, inquire, and make their own discoveries. We are inspired by the Reggio Emilia idea that children have ‘100 languages’ to express themselves. We encourage children to show what they know and understand in multiple creative ways, including movement, drawing, painting, building, sculpture, acting, singing, playing music, making collages, and more.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy emphasises the importance of a high-quality early childhood education environment. Our indoor area is beautiful and well-ordered, and we incorporate natural play and natural materials in every session.
Combining the Reggio Emilia approach with the principles of Te Whariki, the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, allows our teachers to create a nurturing environment where we foster joyful learning, creativity, and deep thinking.
