Our Philosophy
At Little Forest, we believe childhood should be a joyful and dynamic time, filled with curiosity and discovery. That’s why we’ve carefully crafted learning programs designed to inspire your child and help them reach their full potential.
We understand that every child is unique. Our dedicated teachers create a nurturing environment where individual needs and interests are met through a thoughtful balance of guided activities and self-directed exploration.
Learning happens best through experience. That’s why we’ve created an engaging, stimulating, and fun environment built on the principles of Te Whāriki. Our approach empowers children and their families to actively take part in the journey of personal growth and development.
We provide all children with a safe, caring, fully supportive, multicultural environment where we demonstrate respect for each child and family.
Our Program
Our programme at Little Forest is planned to develop the individual and group strengths, interests and needs of each child. We believe children’s experiences during the early years significantly shape and determine the ongoing development of knowledge, the successful acquisition of skills and particularly the forming of attitudes and subsequent dispositions.
Children love to discover – and the environment we provide lets them explore through fun and challenging play and interaction.
Early childhood education begins the process of passing on the knowledge, attitudes and values of our society to our children so that they have skills and confidence to take an active part in the community. The early years are the time when a child learns the basis of all he/she will have to know to function well later in life. It is the time when foundations are laid and children need positive guidance and assistance developing healthy emotional, mental, social, intellectual, cognitive, creative and physical skills. Your child’s progress is documented in the form of observations and learning stories.
Our programme incorporates the goals and learning outcomes of Te Whāriki into our routines and activities so that children have the opportunity to gain a strong cultural awareness and appreciation of their place in society.
We believe that parent/teacher communication is an essential ingredient in meeting the needs of your child and we welcome and encourage a close partnership. Your input is encouraged and your child’s portfolio is available to view at any time.
We use an online portfolio system called Storypark. It is a system specifically designed to connect our Centre with its parents. It is a secure online diary which allows you to share in the experience of your child’s day and gives you an opportunity to give us valuable feedback.
All the activities provided at Little Forest are designed to meet your child’s educational needs as well as caring for them in a warm, supportive and nurturing environment. It is our aim that when your child goes to school, we have helped develop a happy, well-rounded individual with a love of learning.
Under 2 Routine
The Pipi Room is where it all starts for children between the ages of 5 months and 2 years old. Some of the most important aspects of your child’s introduction to learning are carried out by our committed team of teachers who understand the processes and the curriculum. We have created a warm, nurturing environment to stimulate all aspects of early childhood development in our purpose-built room with direct access to its own outside play area.
In the Pipi Room our teachers follow each baby’s needs and communicate carefully with the parent on arrival and departure each day. This is to ensure the child’s continued comfort and routine. A daily diary is completed by the parents and the teachers. This goes home with the parent and returns to school each day.
The under two’s room is one hundred percent focused on the needs of the infants. Sleep, rest and feeding routines continue over the day according to individual needs.
To develop strong, trusting, respectful relationships with each infant, the teachers respond to the child’s needs to cuddle, move around or to have quiet time.
The environment has age appropriate equipment and toys and all activities are based on the children’s interest or developmental milestones.
Story-time features prominently every day and the babies very quickly recognise their favourite songs, puppet stories, and books. They spend time indoors and outdoors on a daily basis.
Over 2 Routine
The Paua Room environment includes books, puzzles, playdough, blocks, finger plays, songs, puppet stories, construction equipment and numerous levels of art activities.
The classroom is rich in literacy opportunities starting with each child ‘finding’ their name on a board at the door and attaching it to the locker of their choice for the day. Self-help skills and responsibility for own belongings are encouraged.
Activities are laid out to attract children to participate. Children are encouraged to try different activities to extend their learning and to challenge their abilities. Teachers supplement and change activities, throughout the day, based on age & abilities. These include a variety of physical activities for children to further develop co-ordination, strength and social interactions.
Children gather together for mat-time for discussions about interests, news, days of the week, weather, planning for the day or story-time, music, and dramatic play. Children are encouraged to play indoors and outdoors. They are encouraged to choose, continue and return to activities of their own interest or be part of planned events.
Set meal and snack times are established and become part of the child’s daily structure and social experience.
Some children will have their routine sleep/rest time, for others this will be a quiet time for small group activities such as reading, one-on-one work and individual experiences.
The older children participate in school readiness activities which include letter/word recognition, numbers, matching, sequencing and writing skills.