Our Philosophy
Kopuwai Early Learning Centre promotes a calm and purposeful environment where tamariki and whānau feel welcome and safe. Kaiako support an inclusive home-like environment through empowering tamariki to make their own learning choices, while fostering holistic development.
The Kopuwai culture advocates manaakitanga, empathy, communication, curiosity, resilience, fun, laughter, and joy. Teachers are intentional in designing environments to develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes for working cooperatively. Manaakitanga – Protection and enhancement of mana.
Enriched play-based experiences promote creative, expressive and active exploration for tamariki. Independence is fostered to encourage risk taking, challenging themselves physically and mentally, devising working theories and providing opportunities to develop dispositions for future formal learning. Ako – Participating in learning, learning from people, places and things.
Kaiako design a programme around ngā tamariki, their current needs and emerging interests, underpinned by the principles of Te Whāriki and with the understanding that children learn in their own way and in their own time, reflecting the term ā tōna wā. Kaiako are guided by learning outcomes outlined in Te Whāriki, internal evaluation, research, and the evolution of our team. Our skilled and dedicated kaiako exhibit a passion to create nurturing and inclusive environments rich in provocations creating a sense of wonder and excitement to learn. Kotahitanga – Participating with a purpose, gaining knowledge, examining practice to enrich the curriculum.
At Kopuwai Early Learning Centre we value and respect whānaungatanga, the strong relationships which develop between ākonga, kaiako, parents, whānau and the wider community. Therefore, we encourage whānau to be actively involved in their children’s learning. Through social interactions children learn to become collaborative, confident, competent, life-long learners with a positive learner identity. Whanaungatanga – Partnership with a focus on relationships.