Our curriculum

City Kids offers experiences which are guided by "Te Whaariki" the early childhood curriculum. This curriculum is founded on the following aspirations for children:
“to grow up as competent and confident learners, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society” (p.9)

This emphasises learning that happens through reciprocal and responsive relationships for children with people, places and things. Children learn through guided participation and observations of others, as well as through individual exploration and reflection.

Through these relationships, conversations with whanau, and observations, teachers identify learning goals for individual children and groups of children. This forms the basis of our planning for children’s learning, teachers use these interests to design the indoor and outdoor spaces, catering for and watching the new discoveries that take place by the children in these areas. Planning for a child or group also enables other children in the centre to experience something new and different and extend their personal interest.

All teachers write learning stories of significant learning for all children, so a wide perspective of each child is collected. These stories are based on children’s interests, strengths and capabilities, and highlight children’s developing dispositions to learn, knowledge, and skills.

These stories, plus artwork, and records of celebrations and special events are kept in a profile book for each child. The profile books are available to children and whanau and we appreciate whanau contribution – this helps us to gain a greater perspective of the child and their interests and passions outside the centre.