Piccolo Preschool

Piccolo Preschool is centrally located in New Plymouth.  Our full-time early childhood centre provides space and flow for small groups of children aged 2 – 5 years.  Together with our qualified and experienced teaching team, this ensures Piccolo Preschool is a confident choice for early childhood care and learning.

Vision

We know children are born with remarkable potential and are competent, active explorers capable of leading their own learning journeys, as well as inspiring others.

We are influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach within our programme, and acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand.  We are committed to embracing our bi-cultural heritage.

Philosophy

Our warm and welcoming family-like environment promotes safe, secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships. We believe that partnerships and relationships, form through regular communication with family and whānau. The programme is enriched through the sharing of ideas, knowledge, skills, culture and experiences, as well as continually focussing on children’s learning through assessment.

Acknowledgement of the Treaty of Waitangi and respect of our bi-cultural heritage is evident through our focus on building strong, reciprocal relationships with all families where children, parents and whānau are heard (taha hinengaro); where our children, parents and whānau feel safe (taha whānau); where our environment supports the development of physical growth (taha tinana); and where our practices empower children, parents and whānau to weave their own beliefs and values to promote a sense of wellbeing within themselves and community (taha wairua).

We value collaboration as vital to the success of our programme and see ourselves as learners with children through projects inspired by their curiosity. Teachers intentionally prepare spaces for learning that builds on children’s strengths and interests to grow potential. We believe that children can independently communicate their knowledge and understanding through the use of symbolic languages (e.g. painting, sculpting, drama) in everyday life.

The neutral learning landscape provides a canvas that encourages exploration, discovery, and challenge as tools for navigation through our natural and physical worlds. The physical learning environment, both indoors and outdoors, is viewed as the “third teacher” and promotes positive and engaging relationships between children and others, supporting children to problem solve and take risks. Sustainable practices and organic gardening practices play a pivotal role in learning about and caring for our natural world.

Listening to children and engaging in conversations that provide children with time to think is critical for our teaching. Careful observation informs our decisions and inquiry, supported by regular training and professional learning about quality practice.