Centre Philosophy

Centre Philosophy

How do we view children?

We believe that all children are unique individuals who should to be treated with respect, who are acknowledged as reflective thinkers, explorers, capable of making sound decisions with regards to their own learning. We view all children as communicators who have the right to express themselves through: drawing, painting, building, shadow play, dramatic play, music, movement, words. We believe in respecting each individual child’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs through everything we do at Bright Sparks.

What are our roles as teachers and educators?

Our passionate and highly skilled teachers collaborate with our children and their families, exploring, questioning, and making sense of the world together. The teachers listen with all their senses, ensuring each child’s safety, well-being, learning and wairua are enhanced to their greatest potential. Our diverse educators work together for the benefit of the children and their families.

Partnership with parents and whanau

Parents and whānau are the children first parents, their aspiration for and commitment to their children are the foundation for positive, strong, and trusting relationships. We encourage constant and reciprocal communication with teachers, staff and centre as a whole.

Culture and Faith

We believe all children develop confidence, self-worth and a positive self-image as they learn of their uniqueness and of God’s love for them within the framework of basic Christian teachings. At Bright Sparks we affirm and celebrate in a variety of ways each child’s unique culture and belief system. We provide an environment where we respect these differences.

Our programme

Our programme is based on three educational pillars: Reggio Emilia principals, Te Whāriki- the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, and Christianity. To ensure the consistent quality of our programme, all teaching teams engage in on-going reflective korero, professional development, training and theoretical exploration. Open-ended questioning supports the general growth of ideas, furthermore offering meaningful opportunities for better understanding the child and her/his interests. Assessment and documentation play a crucial role in our programme, as they create opportunities for collaboration, consistently deepening our understanding of all children, and our environment, provoking and challenging us further.

Our environment as the third teacher

At Bright Sparks Childcare we provide environments that are reflective of the children’s skills and interests, that provide vast interactive opportunities that are inviting and have a homely feel so that children can engage in a natural space that is reflective of the cultures and communities within it.