Parent Information

Hours

The Centre is open from 7:00am to 5:30pm throughout the year and closes only at weekends and statutory holidays.

Children are viewed as competent, capable learners. They engage in learning-focused relationships with kaiako ,who provide a curriculum consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. The curriculum is aligned to the service’s priorities for learning. The service’s philosophy is lived and visible in the centre.

Children under the age of three benefit from a calm, unhurried environment. Kaiakoknow children’s individual needs, and children demonstrate a strong sense of belonging.

Children’s learning is enhanced through individualised assessment practices that:

• inform planning

• support kaiako to engage in intentional teaching practices

• extend children’s learning

• support children to develop their image as successful learners, building and promoting their confidence and mana as individuals.

The centre philosophy is founded on genuine and respectful relationships, the celebration of cultural diversity and the integral place of partnerships with parents/whānau, based on children's learning and development.

You need to feel positive about the centre and our teachers before your child starts on their new adventure, so that you all can transition smoothly into the Pīwaka environment . 

We encourage you to spend time with your child at Pīwaka to become familiar with our routines and use this time to talk to us about the aspirations you have for your child.

This way, you can get to know our teachers and become familiar with the environment and routines that your child will become part of. 

It enables us to communicate with families, teachers and specialists to ensure children receive the best opportunities.

This is achieved through providing:

• Deeper insights into your child's unique interests, learning, needs and abilities

• Improves communication between teachers and families

• Enables teachers to spend their time with your child more effectively

• Helps your child's teachers define "whats next" in their learning.

• Share movement, song and creative expression through audio and video

• Actively involve grandparents, family and close friends thorough individual and community posts/photos on a secure online platform

We obtained Healthy Heart accreditation for Pā-Harakeke Gold Award status and have operated under those parameters for over 4 years. This enables us to focus on health and nutrition. We operate with two cooks who provide morning teas, lunch and afternoon teas

Any children with food allergies are catered for within the parameters of the Healthy Heart Guidelines

Pīwakawaka is one of Tāne, God of the forest and birds children, Pīwakawaka one of the smallest birds, yet full of energy, the sentinel, the challenger to anyone that enters the sacred forest of Tāne, challenging them all, to be respectful of the great Forests of Tāne and all within it. Pīwakawaka is nimble and sharp of mind, darting in front of the visitors as they enter the sanctuary of ngā manu rangatira. He hovers, then darts forward flicking his taiaha with strength and swiftness, Ti Ti Tei Tei Tū! “do you come in peace - or not”, he cries out, the little warrior reminding us to challenge ourselves to be the best that we can be, and if you challenge someone else be tika and pono (honest and true). The energetic nature of Pīwakawaka gives us motivation and strength to push the boundaries and achieve our ultimate dreams.