Childcare options in Waipawa

Waipawa Kindergarten is an attractive and spacious setting, where fully qualified and registered teachers promote playing as a good friend.

At Waipawa, children actively engage and explore in a well resourced learning environment with emphasis on ecological learning, sensory experiences, physical development and relationships with our families, whanau and community.

Nā tau rourou, nā taku ka ora ai te iwi.

It is with your food basket and my food that we all prosper.

Waipawa Vision and Philosophy

Building a community that nurtures and protects our most precious taonga – our children and our planet.

Teaching Philosophy

We believe all children are unique and have their own special gifts, talents, strengths and interests.

Children learn best and develop a sense of well-being and belonging in an environment where there is love, respect and understanding.

Our aim is to ensure that all children we teach develop a sense of self worth, self belief and confidence in their abilities.

Our practice is inclusive.

We will provide acceptance, tolerance and encouragement in a nurturing environment where it is fun to learn, safe to take risks and to make mistakes.

As teachers we value and encourage respectful collaborative relationships with our families that reflects our focus on Education for Sustainability, the cultural make-up of our community and the bi-cultural heritage of Aotearoa. 

Waiapu Kids Abbotsford is a community-based early childhood centre and service of Anglican Care Waiapu.

We provide quality care and education for up to 33 children in a mixed-age group setting. Our centre is situated just off the main road in Waipawa.

The concepts of ‘tuakana – teina’ and ako are strongly valued at the centre. This is seen in the respectful and reciprocal relationships between teachers, our older tamariki, infants, and toddlers as they learn together and alongside each other in a safe environment, sharing knowledge and experiences. These relationships play an important part in what we believe in, and base our philosophy and teaching practice on.

We value children’s play as the way in which they learn. Teachers facilitate child-led learning experiences, incorporating whanau aspirations and children’s knowledge.  Our teachers are committed to enabling children to become lifelong learners, and observe, support, and teach children as they discover the world around them. Teachers capture such treasured experiences in well-documented learning narratives that are shared with whanau.

Our Centre Philosophy

Respect is at the heart of our philosophy and it inspires our teaching.

This is seen in our relationships with whānau, tamariki, community and environment, and strengthened by our Christian values and teaching practice.

We value children’s play as central to the way they learn about the world around them. Different learning experiences and opportunities are provided for children each day to foster their cultural awareness, interests, develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills, and build self-confidence and creativity.

We promote children’s confidence and independence and we have fun together!

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.