Our Team
Our kaiako (teachers) at our childcare centre in Gisborne are wonderful and passionate people, who have been selected based on their experience within the Early Childhood Education field, their professional knowledge of teaching and nurturing young children and their philosophy of education and knowledge of child development.
We value professional development, and encourage our childcare team to participate in a variety of courses, in order to grow and keep up to date with new developments in the educational field.
At The Point Early Learning Centre Gisborne, happy and content staff are as important as happy children.
Our Philosophy
The Point’s building logo represents our values & beliefs. The roof symbolises the overarching aroha, the love that binds us together and each pillar symbolises the four principles that underpin our centre philosophy:
Aroha | Love
At The Point Childcare and Education Centre, children are our primary focus; each child is unique and brings with them their own special qualities and characteristics. We aim to support children’s holistic development. Children at our centre will experience a caring, nurturing environment, one which promotes a positive self-image and respect for people, places and things. One which helps children build positive relationships, where they experience and learn the importance of trust & honesty and where they develop a sense of independence and autonomy.
We wish for children to have access to quality education and care that establishes a love of learning that will continue throughout their lives.
Whakawhanaungatanga | Relationships
We recognise parents/caregivers as the child’s first educators and through a supportive and collaborative approach we will work together to develop shared goals and aspirations for their children.
We aspire for children to learn the value of their own and other cultures and experience the concept of tuakana/teina which emphasises reciprocal relationships wherein children and teachers play both a teaching and learning role within the learning community. We understand that younger children learn from older children and vice versa, accentuating the importance of each child’s
value and contribution.as they learn from each other,the teachers and their surroundings.
Ako | Teaching & Learning
We aspire for all children to have access to a high quality curriculum that notices, recognises and responds to the curiosity and interest shown by our learners. For children to experience an environment that supports the development of their numeracy and literacy skills, as well as one where communication is encouraged and social interaction is supported, which will assist them to develop skills in establishing and maintaining healthy relationships in the future.
We also believe that children bring knowledge from home and that they can teach us and their peers as much as we can teach them.
The Point strives to celebrate this collective knowledge and utilise it to learn new things.
Taiao | Environment
The Point believes that the environment is a child’s 3rd teacher and strives to provide a nature rich environment with a vast indoor and outdoor spaces. By utilising, encouraging and valuing all areas of learning and development through Papatuanuku – Mother Nature we provide children with the opportunity to build strong connections with the natural environment so they learn to care for, respect and protect the living world.
We aspire for children to experience free, independent movement and play and provide safe spaces and time for them to move freely on their own and in their own way. We provide a safe but challenging environment that supports
self-discovery, exploration, joy in success and accomplishment and where they will have fun while they learn.
Tākaro | Play
We are guided by New Zealand’s bi-cultural curriculum Te Whāriki and acknowledge that children learn through play as well as planned experiences. Children will have opportunities to interact with and explore their environment, the people within it and be guided by teachers that recognise that play, problem-solving and exploration are important and valued ways of learning. We wish for children to have the freedom to explore their own creativity and provide opportunities and experiences that foster this.
Curriculum
Our Gisborne childcare centre is committed to follow the aspirations of the New Zealand National ECE Curiculum, Te Whāriki,
“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”.
Te Whāriki envisages kaiako in early learning settings working in partnership with parents, whānau and community to realise this vision. The expectation is that, in their early years, children will experience a curriculum that empowers them as lifelong learners.
Te Whāriki supports this work by providing a framework of principles and strands. The principles are the foundations of curriculum decision making and a guide for every aspect of pedagogy and practice. The strands are 5 areas of learning and development, where the focus is on supporting children to develop the capabilities they need as confident and competent learners. Each setting takes these principles and strands and, in partnership with parents and whānau, uses them to ‘weave’ a curriculum whāriki that is specifically designed for their children.
Our Rooms
Nursery | 0-3 Years
0-3 years
We pride ourselves on whakawhanaungatanga (relationships and connectedness) and our environment supports this through our tuakana/teina (mixed age) learning spaces. All areas encourage indoor/outdoor flow and tamariki are supported and encouraged by our interactive teaching team. Our curriculum focusses on learning through play and exploration incorporating te taiao (the natural environment), the arts, technology and ako (teaching and learning).
Kauri Room | 4 year olds
4 year olds
Our Kauri Room provides a rich learning environment focused on the tuakana (older children) of our centre.
In the Kauri Room, tamariki have the opportunity to develop confidence, independence and self management all of which align with Te Whariki (Early Childhood Curriculum) and the pathways to kura (school).
Sustainability
We introduce sustainable habits and practices to our children by encouraging them to reduce, reuse and recycle. We also keep worm farms and grow our own vegies in our very own Centre garden.
Using Storypark significantly reduces the amount of paper used for forms and newsletters.
We use local suppliers and partners where possible, supporting the sustainability of businesses in our community.
We believe every little bit helps to ensure sustainability for our precious future generations!
Connecting Children with Nature
The natural world is a giant, open-ended learning laboratory. Children are innate scientists and love to experience the sights, scents, sounds, and textures of the outdoor environment. At The Point, we are always looking for learning opportunities that embrace nature. Through free play, children spontaneously connect with nature right here in our own playground and outdoor environment. For example, children are often busy building masterpieces with dirt or sand, searching for twigs and sticks, watching worms wriggle through the soil, gazing at clouds, jumping in puddles, or listening to the birds sing.
Our toddlers and pre-schoolers thrive on using their imagination as they become ‘explorers’ in their own environment, doing this means they are encouraged to investigate and learn names of animals, insects, plants, and their purposes on our earth. We love seeing the children learn to care for their centre environment, their community, and the great big world we live in!
Contact us or drop into our Gisborne childcare centre for a visit. We look forward to meeting you.
Here at The Point Early Learning Centre, we understand that your child’s education and care is a priority and that choosing the right childcare centre can be a big decision. We would be delighted to share in your child’s learning journey. Feel welcome to contact us in whichever way is most convenient for you, or visit our Gisborne centre and meet our wonderful teachers.