Little Footsteps aims to provide a warm welcoming environment where the children feel safe in their relationships and their health and well-being is protected and nurtured. An environment where tamariki and their whanau have a sense of belonging and where teachers are guided by the principles of *whanaungatanga and **manaakitanga. We aspire to provide a holistic programme where children learn strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning.
Through communication and collaborative relationships with whanau we strive to ensure that their needs and aspirations are valued and respected. Teachers encourage tamariki and their whanau to be partners in learning to ensure positive learning outcomes for all tamariki.
We value our small centre, which has a mixed age grouping that sustains teina/tuakana relationships where older tamariki support the younger tamariki. We provide a programme where tamariki are empowered to actively learn through play with and alongside others supported by a sensitive and knowledgeable teaching team.
We are committed to the principal of partnership, the protection and participation inherent to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and our obligation to protect Te Reo and Nga Tikanga Maori.
Teachers believe it is everyone’s responsibility to plan for the future and take care of our planet. We support educating today’s generation to preserve and care for our natural resources so we can leave the planet in a better condition for future generations.
* Whanaungatanga – relationships/connectedness, sense of family
** Manaakitanga – caring/nuturing/kindness/being a friend