Childrens Ark

The Children’s Ark is a community based early childhood centre that affirms Christian values and beliefs.  We offer every child and their family a safe, positive and challenging learning environment, where the emphasis is on fun.

Our professional teaching team believes that each child is unique and that young children learn best through play. The programme is based on Te Whariki, and aims to build on each child’s strengths and interests. Children are encouraged to make their own play choices and to actively experiment, explore and extend their thinking with support and guidance. Teachers work hard to ensure that learning opportunities are not limited by age, gender, ability or background.

We acknowledge the role of family as the first teacher and support families to participate in all aspects of our programme. In building parent partnerships we aim to understand the priorities, interests and concerns of the children, families and community we serve.

Some of the reasons to choose Children’s Ark

100% Qualified teachers

Each room is staffed with fully qualified teachers, giving above minimum teacher to child ratios. We believe that higher ratios provide better quality care and education for the children.

Our teaching team is stable, including some who have been with us for over 10 years.  This provides great stability and continuity for your child.

Learning through play

Our professional teaching team believes that each child is unique and that young children learn best through play.  The programme is based on Te Whariki (NZ Early Childhood Curriculum), and builds on each child’s strengths and interests.  Children are encouraged to make their own play choices and to actively experiment, explore and extend their thinking with support and guidance.  Teachers work hard to ensure that learning opportunities are not limited by age, gender, ability or background.

As part of our preschool education programme, we encourage children to explore independently in a safe environment, learning through play, making choices, thus becoming empowered to be creative, imaginative and resourceful, solving problems, whilst having fun in the process.

At the heart of our teaching practice, we value and share our Christian faith by upholding Christian values and beliefs.

Outside play is an important part of our curriculum and children are encouraged to engage with our extensive natural environment on a daily basis.

“Kids who play outside are more adaptable, less likely to get sick and get along with each other better.  It’s no surprise ‘nature prescriptions’ are being written by paediatricians to help children cope with a range of issues from difficulty concentrating to autism” - Swings & Roundabouts, Sept 2014

Caring for the environment

As part of our zero waste journey we are using eco nappy services, collecting food scraps in worm farms and bokashi bins, and partnering with the Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste.

When selecting our play resources we are mindful of avoiding plastic items which will ultimately end up in a landfill. Most of our resources have been carefully selected using home-made, up-cycled loose parts that stretch rather than hinder a child’s imagination.

“There are other bonuses when we use natural materials instead of bought plastic stuff. These natural items themselves are the epitome of the mathematical patterns nature employs in creation, affording our children the chance to 'down load' these patterns, as well as the subtleties of colour, texture, smell and sound” - Pennie Brownlee

Children have a richer play experience when they interact with real and natural play resources.  And it’s great for the environment too!