Turitea Childcare Centre

About

Turitea Childcare Centre, AgResearch Grasslands Campus, Palmerston North

Story

Turitea Childcare Centre’s vision is to deliver an excellence of care and education for children that works alongside parents and families as the primary educators and carers of their child.
We recognise that excellence is a commitment, a willingness to learn, openness to critique, and a means of fulfilling a special obligation to children and families to serve them with respect, honesty and integrity. We believe in pursuing and applying research evidence, professional guidance, and feedback from children, parents, and our immediate community.
At the heart of our vision is the belief that children have a right to high quality outdoor play where vital learning occurs when children can immerse themselves into nature and the natural environment. (Nature Pedagogy) By moving outdoors – our children are learning with nature not just being taught about it. Challenging moments and play where there is some risk attached encourages children to push themselves to the edge of their capabilities.
Our vision of Turitea aligns with the Reggio Emilia philosophy of putting the natural development of children and the close relationships that they share with their environment at the heart of the Centre philosophy.
Our programme is based on the interests of the children who learn the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploring and discovery within a supportive and enriching environment. The children play an active role in helping to create their daily experiences as well as within our diverse cultural community, they are able to experience and share the values, laws and customs of their own and others cultures. “Children learn through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things,” our children make connections between home, whanau and community.
Our vision of establishing a positive and supportive work place culture is realised by proactive attitudes being cultivated and by enabling every person at the Centre to feel pride in what they do and what they make possible, both personally and collectively.
Our vision of quality practices provides management and teachers with a sound basis for self-review and in turn, contributes to an ongoing improvement in all areas.