The Centre has 5 clearly defined classrooms

Nursery 1 (Non walkers) and Nursery 2 (Walkers)

Our teachers provide a safe and loving environment where infants can grow and develop. We have based our program plans on observation, highlighting children’s strengths and interests. ICT is integrated across all of the nursery programs.

Toddlers (16 months to 2.5years)

Children’s independence is extended and built upon. Self help skills are encouraged and supported. A range of indoor and outdoor activities are provided daily. Language skills and the ability to concentrate are extended through daily activities in the program. ICT is integrated across all of the toddler programs.

Preschool 1 (2.5-5 years) and Preschool 2 (2.5-5 years)

Children are now provided with age specific activities that are designed around developmental stages. The program supports independence, group and individual learning experiences. A range of indoor and outdoor activities are provided daily. We have a strong focus on assisting children in discovering who they are, so they can express their own opinions and nurture their own ideas. ICT is integrated across all of the preschool programs.

We believe in the importance of working co-operatively with families, being involved in the learning process. We also believe that there is more to teaching and learning than rote tasks, superficial understanding and skills taught in isolation. Our aim is to develop positive attitudes and dispositions towards learning and to encourage children to apply their knowledge and understanding over a diverse range of real issues, situations and settings.

At Natural Steps we favour a holistic approach, providing an open learning environment encouraging active, investigative learning within a context that is meaningful to the child.

“Research shows that children who have been in high quality programs before they started school, stayed longer in school and achieved more.”

Our curriculum at Natural Steps Early Childhood Centre

Curriculum describes everything that happens in the centre that impacts on your child’s learning, development and wellbeing. Everything that happens to your child has the potential to be a learning experience and so the curriculum covers:

The interactions children have with adults and other children.
The learning experiences teachers plan.
The activities children initiate for themselves.
The daily routines that occur in the centre.

‘Te Whariki’ is the title of the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum it provides guidelines for Teachers delivering an Early Childhood program. Our progam has been developed in line with this curriculum document.

The curriculum principles we have identified are:

	The curriculum emphasises children as initiators and decision-makers, constructing their own knowledge through active learning.
	The curriculum is appropriate to the developmental stage the children have reached.
	The people (both adults and children) with whom the child interact are of central importance.
	There is a focus on what children can do (rather than what they cannot do) this is the starting point in the child’s education.
	There is an inner structure in the child which includes the imagination and which emerges especially under favourable conditions.
	It is important for adults to reward children’s success with encouragement and specific praise.
	Children need time and space away from adults so that they can create “worlds of their own”.
	Parents are children’s first and main educators in the early years.
	Learning is not compartmentalised, everything links.
	Encouraging children to review their own learning is at the heart of effective teaching.
	Activities need to be carefully matched to the abilities of each child.

We encourage you to visit us to view the Centre which is situated on the corner of 130 Marua Road and Ballarat Street Ellerslie. You are welcome to phone on 09 579 4991 and make a specific time if you wish to do so.