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Parents and Whānau Information
Kindergarten has a long and proud history of providing high quality early childhood education.
Research shows children who attend a high quality service, like kindergarten, develop better skills in areas such as communication, numeracy, problem solving, reading and socialisation that carry them through the later years.
Our kindergartens provide high quality Early Childhood Education that ensures a confident start for your child with:
- qualified teachers
- a service that is affordable
- a warm, welcoming and friendly environment
- children that gain skills for their pathway of lifelong learning
To grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society.
Aspirations for children, from Te Whāriki National Early Childhood Education Curriculum.
HOW CHILDREN LEARN BEST AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM
Everyone learns best when they can select their particular area of interest. Research shows that young children learn best by exploring, trying things out, finding out what works and what doesn't. Young children learn best through playing in an environment created for their learning where their interests are supported rather than just having information "told" to them. Our teachers are trained to support this type of learning. When children take an interest in something teachers work alongside them to research and explore.
Teachers discuss and record learning and give the child the chance to revisit learning. The process of assessment, planning and evaluation respects children as confident and competent learners. Kindergarten learning focuses on the whole child, acknowledging their social, emotional and interest-related learning. The learning opportunities that are planned or that happen spontaneously should encourage learning dispositions such as fun, interest, excitement, perseverance, motivation, delight, joy, wonder, reason, question, amuse, challenge, explore, discover, and should empower every child.
Parents and Whānau
Parents and whānau are invited to be involved in all aspects of their child's learning, because parents and whānau have knowledge that supports children's learning, just as teachers do. We want our kindergartens to be communities of mutual respect where everyone's contribution is valued and respected for the value it adds to a child's learning journey.
Teachers
All teachers employed by South Taranaki Free Kindergartens in teacher positions are qualified and registered, having undergone and gained relevant qualifications at tertiary education levels. Once qualified they continue to keep current with the latest in teaching and learning theory through regular professional development and through the support of Senior Teachers - experienced teachers who provide pastoral and professional support to kindergarten teams on an individual and group basis.
Our Programme
Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, is implemented in all our services.
Teachers use children's interests as part of the programme to make the most of learning moments to develop and increase their knowledge and skills becoming confident and competent lifelong learners with a sense of enquiry.
Using the Te Whāriki teachers will discuss and plan how they can support children's learning. Programme development will include:
- Extension for children's thinking
- Recognition of children's learning dispositions and support development of their social skills
- Challenges and provocations for children
- Provision of quality resources
- Provision of opportunities to meet children's learning interests and needs
- Support for beginning awareness and developing skills of literacy and numeracy.
Teachers record the learning journeys for each child. These may include written records and digital images of progress and development.
Noticing, Recognising and Responding
Teachers will talk to the children, parents and whānau and each other to develop the programme for the kindergarten based on children's learning interests and needs. This process is ongoing as everyone involved notices children's learning, recognising what is significant for children and responds to support the children's learning.
We welcome any feedback or ideas you have. If you would like further information on our programme, please contact the kindergartens or refer to Te Whāriki - the early childhood education national curriculum (available on request).
Children with special learning needs are welcome and through the above concepts, all children are offered equitable learning opportunities that need their needs and aspirations.
HELPING CHILDREN SETTLE INTO KINDERGARTEN
Young children react in different ways to starting at kindergarten. Even the most confident child may take a while to become accustomed to the new environment. These notes are a guide to provide some ideas that may help the settling in process go smoothly.
When you come to kindergarten on the first day:
Be prepared to stay and help your child settle in. Some children take several sessions before they are comfortable enough to stay on their own. You are welcome to stay at the kindergarten for as many sessions as you like and also to visit for sessions after your child has settled in. This can be a good time for us to get to know each other and for you to get to know what goes on at kindergarten.
When it is time to leave your child:
It is best that you make the decision about leaving in consultation with teachers. This decision is too big for young children to make, and so although there is some room for negotiation, it is important that you, as the adult, make the final decision. Empathic teachers will be there to support and comfort your child if this is needed.
It is important to say goodbye to your child. Although sneaking away may seem the easiest option at the time, leaving without saying goodbye can be very distressing and create more problems in the future. By saying goodbye, you will be helping to build a trusting relationship which helps children to feel secure. They will trust you when you say you will be back. Your child may cry when you say goodbye, but they will learn to trust that you will come back and to trust us to look after them.
The first time you leave, go for a short time, a whole session may be too long. You may need to start by just going for 10 minutes and to gradually stay away for longer. These short breaks are best done in the first part of the session, so we recommend that you arrive and stay for about 10 minutes, do an activity with your child, then go. Always tell your child what the plan is so they know what to expect. If you say 10 minutes - keep to that time.
We recognise that every child is different and we will always be flexible and discuss with you what approaches to try.
You know your child best and it is important that we work together to make settling into kindergarten as smooth and happy a process as possible.
You are welcome to stay at the kindergarten for as many sessions as you like and also to visit for sessions after your child has settled in.
FUNDING
Kindergartens are funded differently from schools in that kindergartens are bulk funded. This means that currently the government provides funding to kindergarten associations but does not fully fund the cost of running a kindergarten. The bulk funding is designed to cover the teachers' salaries, general maintenance of the buildings and the running of the association office.
Fundraising, donations and community grants are an important source of income for the running of the kindergartens.
20 Hours Early Childhood Education (ECE) South Taranaki
Kindergartens are part of the Government's initiative on 20 Hours ECE education for three and four year olds.
When your child starts kindergarten you will be asked to sign our Registration and Enrolment Form confirming that you will use your 20 Hours ECE with our kindergarten. If you cannot bring these hours to kindergarten you are still very welcome to attend.
Families with three and four year old children, who choose to use their 20 Hours ECE at other early childhood services will be charged a fee of $3.00 per hour (for morning and afternoon sessions) and $3.25 per hour (for 6 hour sessions) for the hours their child/children attend kindergarten.
Children under three years old or over five years old will not be charged a fee for their first 20 hours attendance.
Fees Policy
Fees are currently set at $3.00 per hour (for morning and afternoon sessions) and $3.25 per hour (for 6 hour sessions) per child.
If families access all of the hours their child attends as 20 Hours ECE, this will cover the cost of attending and there will be no fee.
Families who use the Team Parent Unit kindergarten (Koru Kindergarten) will be charged a fee of $160 per week.
If families access some hours at kindergarten as free, but use the remainder of their 20 hours ECE with someone else, they will have to pay a fee for the hours they don't access free.
If the child is under 3, they will receive a rebate from the Association which would cover the cost so it would be free.
If any child accesses over 20 hours of ECE at kindergarten, they will pay the fee for the hours above 20 that they attend.
- Payment of Fees
- WINZ Subsidies