Teaching, Learning & Assessment
Teaching, Learning & Assessment
Each child’s educational programme is based on Te Whaariki, Early Childhood Curriculum. The curriculum, as we use it in early childhood, differs from a school curriculum which sets out specific ways of achieving goals. Curriculum is everything that happens for your child while they are in the educator’s home. Activities and routines provided are potentially all learning experiences. By following the child’s interests and allowing children to take part in a wide range of experiences educators are providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to grow and develop, and to reach their potential.
Children learn at their own pace and in their own way. The curriculum provided should build
onchildren’s needs, strengths and interests; provide them with both challenges and predictable happenings, and with opportunities for independent exploration and movement. It should be rich in language, resources, ideas and thinking and encourage learning with enthusiasm.
Our philosophy is based on the strength of the relationships children and adults have with people, places things and time. Relationships are the underpinning force that guided us in our practice and are constantly amazed at the strength of the relationships the children continue to build with each other, with the educators, with the coordinators and within the environment and the community. It is obvious to us that time is a key element in all of their learning, and we realise our service has the opportunity to provide a learning environment that is not inhibited by structures and routines.
Children can experience an environment in which time is flexible. 
The strands of Te Whāriki are closely interwoven with the element of time and we believe children need time to be, they need to have time to communicate, time to belong, time to contribute and time to explore and discover.
As mentioned previously playgroup provides a central core that links the service together and is where all enquiry based learning begins playgroup provides the opportunity for larger group learning filtering into smaller group and individual learning in the homes and community. Through this approach we are developing the children’s sense of self, and confidence in their abilities and relationships. It is our aim, through role-modelling and support from the coordinator’s, to enable the educator’s to develop their understanding of children’s learning and assessment. While there is still uniqueness and individuality in each home we have a link which threads us all together with a sense of team and togetherness.
ICT
We encourage the use of digital cameras and computers and work with the educators to incorporate these into the children’s learning profiles. Children are able to revisit experiences and happenings through photos, dvd’s and computers, which the educators make readily available to them.
MUSIC
We have a strong focus on music within our service. Our music programme has been developed based on the teaching of Julie Wylie and the service and coordinators belong to Canterbury Musical
Parenting Association. The continued friendships and strong relationships the children have with each other, the educators, the co-ordinators and in the environment, enable them to express themselves in free and uninhibited ways. Music is the pivotal element in which all the children are interested, focused and involved.
Our focus for music is very much about following the child and we are striving to encourage a love and appreciation of all kinds of music. We want the children to see themselves as capable confident learners and by following them and their lead we are better able to engage them in the learning process. Our sessions are not compulsory and while the children are encouraged to join in they are not forced to do so as we believe the observers and listeners are just as engaged as those that are fully participating. We do focus on the elements in music and have been concentrating on beat, pitch and dynamics - we have babies as young as 9 months who are able to keep the beat with shells and stones or their bodies.
Parents are welcome to come along and join us in these sessions. In addition to music at playgroup we offer educators the opportunity to attend a music session one other day during the week.
The children continue to amaze us with their skills and abilities and their contribution. In our recent ERO review the reviewers had this to say:
“The coordinators foster children’s appreciation of music through a range of musical experiences and frequent opportunities for dancing, singing and playing musical instruments. Children participate with enthusiasm. They are developing skills and abilities in rhythm, beat and pitch. These musical opportunities are encouraging children to have fun, develop their musical skills and be leaders.”
THE ARTS
In conjunction with the Champion Centre we hold an annual art exhibition which raises funds for the Champion Centre. This year we will be holding our 3rd Annual exhibition. The exhibition is part of our
enquiry based programme and to date the children’s art works have been hung at Gallery O and the COCA Gallery. Children have the opportunity to experience a variety of art media and have explored painting on canvas, tapestry, felting, pencil drawing and this year we will be focussing on photography.
Children have the opportunities to visit artists in their own environments and artists come and visit us at playgroup, working with the children at their level, helping them to develop their own perspective and understanding of the different styles and media. Nature provides inspiration and we offer the children opportunities to explore their natural environment e.g. the bush, the beach, the backyard. Age is not a barrier, all children including the babies have the opportunity to participate at their level.
