Point Chevalier

We foster a calm, relaxing and peaceful environment in order to create opportunities for children to explore freely. Our resources are open-ended and natural and can be used in a variety of ways as the children spend long periods of time discovering more about the world around them. The environment also allows the child the time, the space and the support to be themselves as they develop an awareness of who they are as a person. Infants and toddlers are encouraged to move freely and to discover new positions and experiment by themselves. Toddlers are encouraged to work things out for themselves with support from adults such as climbing on and off the bikes. As children all have their own individual routines, we work closely with families to establish similar and familiar routines that the child has at home. This helps to provide consistency for the child.

Each child has one main primary caregiver who provides quality, sensitive and responsive care, covering routines such as nappy changing, feeding, bottles and sleep. We place a lot of importance on settling visits before children start at The Rumpus Room — this is where the first bonds form, with the environment, the teaching team and the other children. Visits take place over one to two weeks, and in the first week families stay for short sessions to help their child feel comfortable and secure while the primary caregivers get to know the family. This gives children the time and space to become familiar with their new surroundings and get to know the other children.

At around two years old, children are ready for a more challenging environment. When transitioning from the Nest we have a proven transition procedure. This includes holding small group parent evenings before our children start the transition process so parents are introduced to the area, find out about the process and can ask any questions. Fledglings continue to have a key carer or carers ensuring there is a key relationship for each child and a support person if and when required. Our Fledglings enjoy experiencing an environment where they learn with and alongside our preschoolers. We have a rolling morning tea and afternoon tea where our Fledglings practice their self-help skills.

Fledglings enjoy a dedicated group time to themselves just before lunch where they have the opportunity to come together with their carers if they choose to. Lunchtime is a smaller, more social engagement where they learn about serving themselves and enjoying the kai time as a wonderful social and learning opportunity — a great way to grow friendships and relationships. Once they have finished they transition into the lounge for a sleep. On waking our Fledglings enjoy getting back into the project-based play with their friends and teachers. We head out and about in the community regularly to either the library, park or the Zoo.

Our older children are the leaders in the centre. At this stage we are recognising and responding to the learning cues from the children. The Explorers head out of the centre regularly for adventures at the Zoo, the library, MOTAT, the local playgrounds, Western Springs, or anywhere else they or the teachers can think of.

One of the most popular nights of the year is our annual four-year-old sleepover which is a hotly anticipated rite of passage for the older children. The Explorers are involved in their own learning – setting their own goals, making plans and researching. Our teachers support The Explorers with their interests and goals. Our Explorers are often found involved in child-initiated projects around the centre.