Our Vision
Ā Tātou Tūruapō
Strengthening the important role of Early Childhood Education in the Hurunui District, with the aim to seek every learner’s full potential while working in partnership with whānau, to ensure the best learning outcomes for children and their families.
Our Philosophy
Information on Sunflowers Preschool's core values and philosophy - Ā Tātou Whanonga Pono.
Relationships/Whanaungatanga
Meaningful, positive and trusting relationships with kaiako, tāmariki, whānau and community is where we start our journey of ako/learning.
Respect/Manaakitanga
We show respect for all cultures, diversity and the environment. We place value on the local heritage of the Hurunui, our rural life, Te reo Māori and Te Tiriti ō Waitangi partnership. This will flow through in our approach to ako/learning.
Empowerment/Whakamana
We place value on giving everyone connected to our environment the opportunity to feel supported, grow and have fun which will widen our ako/learning journey with many positive outcomes.
The Programme and Curriculum
-
Tamariki learn in meaningful ways that supports their understanding and relates to rural life and our local environment.
-
There is a balance between child-led and teacher-initiated activities and experiences.
-
This will include free play, practical experiences, physical activities, music and movement time, art and craft sessions, story times, number and writing, experiences, school transiton activities, all with the involvement of skilled early childhood kaiako.
-
Routines are used as learning opportunities. Tuakana teina is encouraged.
-
An emergent ako/learning will be used daily as a tool to develop ideas and deeper thinking with tamariki. This is called Emergent Curriculum
-
Tamariki are role modelled social skills that will help them develop friendships and have positive interactions with other tamariki.
-
The principles Te Whāriki: The New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum and our local environment will be the base of assessment planning and evaluation.
Our Cultural Narrative - Local Curriculum
Tā Tātou Korero Tāhuhu
Tamariki will learn about the history of the Hurunui area. Developing an understanding of the important physical features in our environment that connect to our Sunflowers Pepeha. The stories of Rākaihautu who used his kō to dig the lakes in our area.
What plants and animals exisited on the whenua/land. Why Māori first came to the area to hunt Moa and travel through to the West Coast seeking pounamu/greenstone. How the Treaty of Waitangi allowed Europeans to purchase land in the area and develop the corridale sheep breed for wool and meat. How the land is used today for wide a range of activiites and how the tamariki of our centre connect to this through their own rural life and whānau.