To our most precious tamariki, this philosophy is a gift to you, to share what lies at the heart of Curious Little Explorers. Our commitment is to support you and your whānau during these foundational years of your life in early childhood education.
Every educator at Curious Little Explorers is dedicated to fostering your growth and learning in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment. Our team, formed by educators for educators, understands the importance of support and care, not just for our tamariki but for each other as well. This creates a close-knit community – a village – where you, our tamariki, can thrive. Here, each tamaiti is embraced by our collective strength, benefitting from a diverse range of interests and skills that cater to every unique learning need.
Rooted in the principles of Te Whāriki, we strive to develop your competencies as confident learners, ensuring you feel a profound sense of belonging, both in our homes and within the wider community. Guided by the values of Aroha, Whanaungatanga, Curiosity, and Natural Exploration, we encourage you to play, explore, and extend your creativity and curiosity.
Our home-based environments, inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we view the environment as an educator, another important teacher. This approach is reflected in our homes and local community excursions, which are welcoming, culturally diverse, and embrace nature with purposeful resources. Our environments offer you the chance for self-paced exploration, fostering curiosity and creativity. We want to support you to explore our natural environment both at our homes and within the local community through learning to respect and care for Papatūānuku (Mother Earth), by looking after our environment and all that is living within it (Kaitiakitanga). Nature walks turn into adventures, where we learn to explore, protect, and care for all living things around us, big and small. Our furry friends and community animals become teachers of empathy, reminding us of the interconnectedness of life.
We place a strong emphasis on bicultural education, celebrating and learning about the rich Māori culture of Aotearoa. This includes embracing waiata, karakia, local myths, and legends, and incorporating Te Reo Māori into our daily interactions. By exploring different cultures in our environment It’s like going on an adventure where we discover how people from different cultures live, what they believe, and how they celebrate. This way, we learn to be great friends to everyone, no matter where they come from or what language they speak.
This, tamariki, is our promise to you – a philosophy whispered with aroha, woven with whānau, sparked by curiosity, and nurtured by the wonders of nature. We at Curious Little Explorers stand hand-in-hand with your whānau, ready to support you as you blossom into confident and compassionate young people.
We believe in creating a nurturing, secure space where each child feels loved, respected, and valued. Our educators radiate warmth and empathy, fostering a sense of belonging and trust. We greet each child with warmth and affection, ensuring they feel loved and valued.
Just as the koru spirals back to its roots, we value the strong connections between educators, whānau (family), and the wider community. We foster a supportive “village” where everyone feels a sense of belonging and support. We encourage regular communication between families and educators, building strong partnerships and a sense of shared responsibility.
Like the koru reaching for the sun, we encourage boundless curiosity, inspiring children to explore their world with open minds and a thirst for knowledge. We cultivate a culture of wonder and inquiry, where questions are the seeds of lifelong learning. We provide a variety of stimulating activities and materials that spark curiosity and encourage exploration.
We are committed to upholding these values in every aspect of our service, ensuring that every child at Curious Little Explorers feels safe, nurtured, and empowered to thrive.