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Early Years
Early Years at NZSJ comprises our Pre-school (18 months to 4 years old) to Kindergarten (4 to 6 years old) programmes.
At NZSJ, we know your child learns from actively investigating their world as they play. In play, there is no right way, no wrong way, no best way. There are many ways of being, thinking, creating, imagining, exploring, discovering and learning. We understand that your child’s learning is special to them. It is a complex, cognitive activity that cannot be rushed.
That’s why we have created a learning environment that allows them to learn – their way. They have fun as they learn the skills that they will use to fashion their lives. Learning in the Early Years is based on TeWhãriki, the New Zealand Early Childhood Education Curriculum. This curriculum is founded on the following aspirations for children:
“To grow up as 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.”
Our focus is on the individual child. The starting point is the learner and the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that the child brings to their experiences. In shaping learning, there are four broad principles at the centre of early childhood learning.
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Empowerment: To empower the child to learn and grow.
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Holistic Development: To provide a holistic way for children to learn and grow.
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Family and Community: To integrate the wider world of family and community into a child's learning.
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Relationships: To build a child's learning on responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places, and things.
In summary, our learning takes place through child-centered, play-based activity. The emphasis is on children learning, developing and growing through everyday activities. Through exposure to a broad range of creative, interesting and stimulating activities, children are given the opportunity to learn and grow in ways that see the four principles developed in their lives.
We welcome virtual or in-person visits from prospective families. Contact us to make arrangements through our Admissions Office. We will be glad to answer any questions you have and to book a chat for you with our Head of School.
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