The child is heart of the matter to all that we do
Te tamati ko te ngakau o te mea ki katoa emahi tatiu

Children are respected as diverse unique learners. We recognize and respect that children come to us with different experiences and learning styles. We acknowledge children as competent capable learners who are able to initiate and build ownership of their own learning with support and guidance from our educators.

We believe children learn through responsive respectful trusting and reciprocal relationships with people places and peers (tuakana- teina ).

They are the core values to empower journey of learning for our tamariki in diverse community. Each child is capable unique and competent. Whanaungatanga and partnership between children, teachers and parents are the heart of our teaching and learning practices. We aspires to offer a culture of creative spaces where every child like pikopiko unfolds their hundred languages of learning.

Te whariki curriculum underpins our pedagogical practices:

“Te Whāriki, our early childhood curriculum is embedded into everything we do and we uphold the curriculum’s vision “that children are 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” people and environment . Our teaching practice focuses on resect reciprocal learning and recognizing the importance of diversity and the environment as the third teacher.We value whanau’s partnership in their children’s learning aspirations and development. Each child and their whanau s culture and uniqueness is valued and respected.

We believe that’s holistic approach to leaning is vital for a child’s well being physically social intellectual emotional and language development.

Our educators are committed to Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi and the uniqueness of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ko the Tamaiti te Pūtake o te Kaupapa
The Child – the Heart of the Matter Whanau
Where life begins and love never ends Kaiako
foster the path of knowledge creative mind
independence and grow for future generation

This philosophy is also guided by the Ministry of Early Childhood Regulations 2008.
Empowerment, Family & Community, Holistic Development and Relationships

Children construct their own intelligence. The adult must provide activities and context, but most of all must be able to listen. Children need proof that adults believe in them. Their three great desires are to be listened to, to understand, and to demonstrate that they are exactly what we expect.’

– Loris Malaguzzi (1920-1994), Italian early childhood education specialist.

The children are given open opportunities to explore, create, experience, adapt, imagine and innovate. We view the child as competent and capable researchers and learner.Culture of learning and teaching where every child like pikopiko unfold their characteristics and dispositions in the learning environment where…

• Children play and work to develop as confident, socially competent and literate learners
• Meaningful learning experiences and interactions between children and teachers foster curiosity, critical thinking and discovery about the wider world
• Children creative visual art works are valued
• Visible pedagogical documentation
• Every child is an artist

Empowerment: We believe to empower children to learn and grow positively and become socially competent learners and constructors of knowledge through Ako- teaching and teaching practices and partnership with parents.

A warm fun and safe Childcare

Lil champs ensures your child is in a safe healthy and secure environment at all times. We are located in the beautiful heart of golf road in a beautiful new centre that incorporates environmentally friendly materials and technologies. We have an abundance of natural lighting and a spacious playground that faces beautiful views and outer world. With our beautiful natural setting, we encourage your child to develop a healthy relationship with nature.

The role of the families

To have collaborative reciprocal communications with whanau in meaningful ways. Parents are welcome to spend time at their child’s learning environment. We value parent’s partnership in their children’s learning, aspirations and development. Each child and their whanau’s culture and uniqueness is valued and respected. The parent is considered the child’s first teacher.

Parents are highly respected and valued at McKenzie lil champs classroom. They are encouraged to participate in the program as much as they would like to – perhaps a parent could talk about their talents or hobbies with the children.

The role of the environment

The learning environment reflects our value in both the natural and sustainable world We embrace the bicultural practice and also value the diversity within our learning community Children creative visual art works are valued Visible pedagogical documentation every child is an artist

Holistic Development: We believe the holistic way children learn and grow through aroha, care and healthy in mind, body and soul by providing them with various meaningful learning experiences within the environment and also be part of the wider community.

We believe children learn through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, environment and things thus contribute to their sense of belonging and well-being. At the heart of teaching and learning practice are the responsive, reciprocal relationships and two ways teaching and learning practices– Ako practices. This is reflected in our planning and learning experiences. We identify what learning is happening for the child and then look for ways that this can be supported or extended following their interests and is documented accordingly. Through this process we learn along with them