As winter approaches, the warmer clothes come out from the…
Our centre philosophy is based on Te Whāriki (our Early Childhood Curriculum document), with play being central as a platform for children’s learning. This is evident throughout our centre, with your child’s individual learning plan focused on using their play as a means to support their learning and provide further extension or complexity. We also recognise your child has a unique perspective of the world, and that your child may learn in a different way to another, so we do not have a “one size fits all” approach to planning for and extending learning.
Our teachers each have guardianship of a small group of children and responsibility for documentation of their learning. Our teachers will observe and notice things about your child’s play, behaviour, interactions, language, and special interests. From this they will begin to develop an individualised learning plan which we call our “Penguins Individual Learning Plan”.
This will involve talking with you and finding out if you are noticing similar exploration at home and what perhaps might be influencing your child. For example, a child who becomes quite obviously focused on building and construction, may have started seeing this every day on their way to Penguins, or perhaps their home has undergone renovations. Your child will make sense of the world around them by “acting” out what they observe. This is the way they derive meaning, understand and process what they see. We also seek to include your aspirations for your child and the ways in which you would like to see us supporting their learning.
Our teachers will also look to notice, recognise and support your child’s learning dispositions. You can think of these as characteristics you would like us to support your children to grow that will enable them to be successful lifelong learners. For example, attributes like persisting with difficulty, being resilient, being a leader, and being curious. Your child’s teacher will see these learning dispositions emerging in all areas of your child’s play, and they will plan to support and strengthen these.
Children’s learning is also on the wall in their room. This will be a snapshot of information from learning plans and portfolio’s, which in the older rooms the children can contribute to. You will find little anecdotes about their play, examples of project work, and a photograph or two.
Planning for individual children enables us to identify the best approach for your child and to use strategies they are more inclined to respond to given their age, stage and level of understanding.
At the conclusion of your child’s learning plan, we welcome your feedback moving forward to the next journey, and we invite you to talk with us about your child’s learning at any time.
As winter approaches, the warmer clothes come out from the…
Each room has really special teachers and your experience with kids is amazing. Our boy has overcome some of his hurdles and you all made that happen!
Parents of a 4 year old boy
Thanks so much for running such a professional, warm & caring establishment. Our journey at Penguins has been wonderful
Parents of 4 year old boy
We are so happy that we could have been apart of the Penguins family. Thank you for taking such good care of our child. Keep doing the amazing job that you are doing.
Parents of graduating child
Our quiet, shy little girl has come on leaps and bounds in the time she has attended Penguins - a truly outstanding and very impressive childcare facility
Parents of 4 year old girl
We felt apart of the family from the beginning. The care and attention of all of the teachers was amazing and my daughter flourished and developed so well on all levels.
Parents of 4 year old girl
I feel that the girls really care; they're not just 'doing a job'. This has made being a working parent so much more bearable as I know my son is in fantastic hands
Parent of 2 year old boy
There was always excellent communication in general and all the amazing learning stories about my daughter, especially during lockdown made us all feel very connected.
Parents of a 3 year old girl