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Our Kaupapa
Our Kaupapa (Centre philosophy) is the beating heart of the Centre, the soul of the curriculum and the spirit that nourishes your tamaiti (child’s) day whilst in our care. The Kaupapa is built upon local iwi aspirations that underpin the values of Te Whāriki (the National Early Childhood Curriculum of Aotearoa).
At Nature’s Cove we seek for our tamariki (children) to:
Kaitiakitanga - Embrace opportunities of environmental stewardship
Relationships with Papatūānuku (mother earth) are important to us. A tamaiti sense of belonging and mana (strength, pride, honour) will be enhanced through learning to sustain their environment. Our connections are created through our everyday teaching such as managing our resources effectively, i.e. food scraps are composted, and water is given back to the gardens. We will grow our own vegetables to appreciate the Wairua (spirit) that goes into gardening and caring for our surroundings.
Manaakitanga – Be respectful of oneself and others
We believe in promoting a warm and supportive environment that creates a culture of caring for oneself and each other. We are fortunate to have a culturally diverse Centre which provides a range of opportunities for tamariki and whānau (families) to celebrate differences. We understand that diversity contributes to the richness of our society, we will ensure the aspirations our whānau and communities have for their tamariki are upheld and fostered. We will ensure there are equitable opportunities for learning, irrespective of gender, ability, age, ethnicity or background.
Whanaungatanga – Have a sense of whānau connection
The focus of Whanaungatanga is on togetherness and relationships to enhance a sense of belonging. Good relationships between our team of Kaiako (teachers), as well as with tamariki and whānau are essential. Caring for each other in a trusting and respectful environment guides our tamariki to enhance their social skills. We will support our tamariki to establish and maintain friendships and participate reciprocally in whanaungatanga relationships.
Tumanakotanga - Aspire to achieve
Our Kaiako are committed to nurturing our tamariki so they can grow strong in identity, language and culture. To develop the hinengaro (cognitive), tinana (physical), whatumanawa (emotional) and wairua (spiritual) dimensions of our tamariki, we will create a natural learning environment both indoors & outdoors that is stimulating, educational and safe, which invokes sense of wonder, curiosity, connection and discovery, through exploration.
He taonga te mokopuna, kia whāngaia, kia tipu, kia rea.
A child is a treasure, to be nurtured, to grow, to flourish.
