Childcare options in Stratford

The teaching team at Central Kindergarten is highly motivated and teamwork is a very important part of the culture of the kindergarten. Communication is viewed as a valuable tool for the future growth and development of our kindergarten and to support meaningful learning outcomes for children. The Central team has a strong commitment to Tikanga and Te reo Māori and foster strong relationships with Whānau, and community.

Our Philosophy

At Stratford Central Kindergarten we value

Relationships that are:

• Warm and trusting
• Non-judgemental and that offer a secure sense of belonging where we listen to the points of view of others while respecting their values, ideas and beliefs

An Environment that:

• Is stimulating and inviting which promotes  positive interactions and discovery
• Has the flexibility to change to support current interests
• Supports an awareness of what is taking place in the world around us
• Offers opportunities for children to take risks as they set their own challenges
• Encourages children to take ownership of their own learning

Teachers encourage and support children to:

• Make choices that empower them to make their own decisions, solve problems and develop skills at their own pace
• Recognise and acknowledge how they are feeling and express their emotions to others
• Deal with such emotions in an appropriate way

Looking for quality Early Childhood Education? Come in and view our Kindergarten and meet our team.

We are a family, founded, and operated early childhood education centre and after school care. Little Steps was built from a dream to provide genuine, quality care and education for children and families whose lifestyles have lead them to the decision to enroll in childcare. We understand that leaving your little one in group care is a huge decision. We want to make this easier for you by providing a loving environment where your child will thrive in both their learning and development. We look forward to meeting you and your families.

Little Steps

AGE 6 Months – 5 Years. Three rooms for infant, toddler, and preschool

LITTLE STEPS

Our staff all have a genuine passion for working with children. Our environment is carefully set up to enable your children to flourish. Our familiar, warm learning spaces provide lots of opportunities for children to challenge themselves physically and mentally. Safety is built in to everything we do. You can be confident that your child will be loved, safe, and always learning while at Little Steps.

Little Steps is split into three rooms: Infants – Arewhana Room, Toddlers – Mokonui Room, and Pre-School – Tohorā Room.

We encourage you to come and visit us – meet our team and find out more about what each specialised room offers your child on their learning journey.

Bigger Steps

Before and after school care for primary aged children

BIGGER STEPS

Your children will love our before and after school program. It is packed full of fun activities, lead by our enthusiastic staff. New ideas are regularly introduced to keep the program fresh. Your child will really enjoy feeling included as part of the team as they help to lead their own adventures and learning.

At Stratford Playcentre our tamariki learn through play. Playcentre offers many opportunities for children to get messy, explore, create and grow. We focus on child-led learning, meaning that each day we offer various learning experiences for children to choose from. A typical day includes many activities such as: painting, playdough, sandpit, swings, slides, science activities and dressing up. We plan each term to cater for the different needs and interests of all our children.

Playcentre is not just for the children. It is fun for parents too when joining in with the children’s activities and meeting other parents. The added bonus is the Education Programme provided for parents within the centre. The Programme supports the informal learning taking place, leading to an increase in parenting and Early Childhood Education skills.

If Stratford Playcentre sounds like something that would interest your family, we offer 3 free visits. We look forward to meeting you!

We purpose built Gr8Kidz with two goals in mind. To create an open environment and to give the children space to be themselves.

Our open environment means the children are not hemmed in to certain rooms but are free to explore what the whole centre has to offer.

We have enough square metres for over 80 children but we stay below 50. This means that every child has more space to move and explore. On wet days where we have to be inside, the kids have many different areas and resources to interact with.

Our outdoor environment is a fantastic area. The children have lots of equipment to test their physical skills and discover what they are capable of. We have a mixture of constant equipment like a playground, sandpit, bikes and carpentry as well as equipment they can move like boxes, tyres and planks where they can create their own obstacles and be creative.

We have an orchard where children get to explore and care for the natural environment and where our kai comes from. This area is surrounded by native trees and flaxes as we continue to learn about what is unique to New Zealand and learn to engage with our taonga (treasures). We also have an outdoor stage for putting on a show and a fire pit.

Relationships

We believe relationships matter. We have systems in place so that children get to be with each other and with teachers they know well. We also know what children need developmentally and therefore have spaces, relationships, and practices to support this. We staff more teachers per child and make sure that children get the support they need.

We are a centre where children can meet together and come together as everyone can see and interact with one another. This means that siblings can be together and that children can learn to respect and show kindness to children that are at a different age and stage to them.

We have an under two area so that those children have space, time and opportunities to work things out without the busyness of older children as well. Older children ask to come into these areas and toddlers can go between the spaces as we know that they may need that space some days as well as connecting with teachers that they may of known for most of their life.

We run at ratios of 1:8 for over twos and 1:3 for under-twos (this is under the required Ministry of Education ratios are 1:10 for over two and 1:5 for under-twos). We staff with more teachers because we believe that children have better learning opportunities when there are more teachers available to support them as well as having smaller group sizes. We believe that there should be enough teachers that every child has the opportunity for their own voice to be heard. They should be cared for individually, being nurtured and developed in a way that is best for them.

We love watching tuakana-teina relationships (relationships between older and younger children) develop as well as children learning to interact with their peers and form friendships.

We value whanau and love our Gr8Kidz family.

Stratford Community Childcare Centre is a childcare centre in Stratford. 

Stratford Community Childcare Centre is a nonprofit organisation that encourages, educates values and respects the young children in our community.

Te Kōhanga Reo

The kōhanga reo movement is a unique initiative based on total immersion in Māori language and values with the aim of passing on Māori culture to future generations.

Kōhanga reo emphasise the revitalisation of the culture through te reo Māori and are dependent on the active participation of the whole whānau. The kaupapa of kōhanga reo aims to strengthen whānau capabilities in cultural, social, economic, spiritual and political matters. Education, health and wellbeing are inherent within all aspects of the kaupapa. The prime focus is the whānau – its collective development, growth, accountability and wellbeing set within a Māori cultural context.

Kōhanga reo do not regard tamariki in isolation, but as important members of the whānau. The kōhanga reo philosophy is that tamariki will benefit when whānau successfully operate according to the kaupapa. Tamariki are an integral part of whānau development.

The following key goals are the foundation of te kōhanga reo kaupapa established in 1982:

• total immersion in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in daily operations
• whānau decision-making, management and responsibility
• accountability
• health and wellbeing of mokopuna and whānau.

The key goals of te kōhanga reo assure that there will be:

• security in te reo Māori
• a supportive, caring environment for mokopuna
• whānau (collective) sharing of responsibilities, knowledge and expertise
• greater respect and appreciation of each other.