Our Centre
Caring for kids on the North Shore for more than a decade
Setting us apart from other large childcare centers in the North Shore, we take pride in having a smaller, close-knit community of children. This allows us to offer the unique opportunity to plan care and activities according to the individual interests and personalities of each precious child. At Kindy Cottage, we're not just a daycare; we're a cheerful family that cherishes every child's journey.
Why Choose Kindy Cottage?
There are plenty of reasons from our convenience to our philosophy. Here's what we think sets us apart:
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We have one teacher for every three children in the nursery and one teacher for every eight children in the preschool. We also have a high number of qualified and registered early childhood teachers.
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Being a small centre we can offer an environment that is an extension of your home and our experienced team of teachers get to know each and every child well.
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Our centre is located in a quiet residential street away from noisy traffic, commercial or industrial areas. Children learn in a peaceful environment with a playground naturally shaded by mature trees and with native birdlife from the reserve next door. It is also convenient whether you live locally or whether you are dropping your child off on the way to work on the North Shore.
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We have close ties with our local community and work with schools, businesses and organisations from nearby areas including Mairangi Bay, Torbay, Murrays Bay, Sunnynook, Albany, Windsor Park, Rosedale and Rothesay Bay. Our fantastic murals on the playground fence were designed and created with a class of Year 5 students from Murrays Bay School.
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We believe in a child-centred approach, letting children take the lead both in the nursery which has children up to 2 and a half and in the preschool which cares for the older children.
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Our school transition programme for 4-year-olds extends numeracy and literacy and is positively recognised by local primary schools.
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We love forming great relationships with our families and you are always welcome. We'll keep you up to date with everything your child has done through in-centre updates and online portfolios.
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While the vibe of an early learning centre and the standard of education is paramount, we know that for many families the cost of childcare also has to be a consideration. So we aim to keep fees competitive and offer subsidies where applicable.
Our Philosophy
At Kindy Cottage, we welcome all tamariki and their whanau into our safe, trusting, and respectful environment where everyone feels a sense of love from our highly engaged, caring, friendly, and professional Kaiako.
When our tamariki leave Kindy Cottage, we would like them to go forwards with a love for learning, a sense of pride and confidence, an understanding for boundaries (but with freedom to explore), positively contributing to society, and having a respect for all others and cultures.
Environment
We value an environment which is a family centric, home away from home, that inspires curiosity and stimulates and encourages exploration. Our programme is primarily play-based, with the child’s voice guiding us, and our teachers responding by intentionally planning to extend their learning. We believe tamariki are individuals and need to be treated as capable and competent learners. Support, respect, and guidance will always be given to assist learning, and to explore the wonder of their imagination. Tamariki are encouraged to learn through experience and participation which allows them to be able to take safe risks, try new things and problem-solve. We value our mixed aged centre, encouraging sibling interactions, and we embrace the concept of tuakana-teina, as tamariki of all ages within our centre learn, teach, care, lead and show respect for one another.
Parents and Whanau
We acknowledge parents and whanau as the child’s first teacher, and the importance of developing respectful, reciprocal relationships with tamariki and whanau. We value and respect the unique knowledge and contribution whanau can offer in decision making and providing feedback. We encourage them to be actively involved in what we do and are always actively communicating with each child’s whanau. Close connections to the wider community are valued and utilized as a way of extending children’s knowledge in what happens in their world around them.
Multi-Cultural Partnership
Te Reo and Tikanga Maori is embraced and nurtured throughout the centre using music, language, arts, and stories of Aotearoa. We also embrace and celebrate the cultures and values of all our whanau at Kindy Cottage. We see this as being vital to enable the building of an inclusive environment. Tamariki will are encouraged to be proud of who they are, they will develop a sense of belonging, and be loved and valued.
Teaching Team
Our caring and dedicated teaching team are highly focused on teamwork. We regularly share knowledge and engage in reflective practice and professional development. We are committed to supporting each individual child’s needs and value each child’s holistic development and respect their aspirations, empowerment, confidence, and ensure they feel a sense of belonging. Our team are flexible and are open to change to facilitate continuous improvement. Our philosophy is underpinned by the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum- Te Whariki. Our teachers are guided by the strands and goals to help plan and respond to children’s individual needs and interests, dispositions, schemas, and urges.
Te Whāriki - the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum
Like all NZ childcare centres, we also follow Te Whāriki - the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum. This aims to ensure that children grow up as confident learners, healthy and have a sense of belonging. Te Whāriki follows:
Five learning strands
Four basic principles
Manaatua – wellbeing
Manatangata – contribution
Mana whenua – belonging
Mana reo – communication
Manaaotūroa – exploration
Whakamana - empowerment
Kotahitanga - holistic development
Whānau Tangata - family and community
Ngā Hononga - relationships