Childcare options in Favona

Wonderland offers a caring, safe, homely environment for children. At Wonderland, parents/whānau and teachers work in partnership by building genuine relationships to support and guide children’s learning and development. 

We believe that teaching is from the heart and all children are cared for in a safe, secure, stimulating, and challenging environment in an atmosphere conductive to the development of healthy and happy children.

At Wonderland, teaching and learning is a collaborative and holistic process engaged in through play. We encourage and nurture children’s learning through their interests and strengths. Learning environments are thoughtfully planned for to provoke imagination, creativity, exploration, and inquiry.  

We respect children as unique and special individuals who are competent and confident learners and communicators. We encourage children to build responsive and reciprocal relationships with peers and adults, which show respect and care for each other. 

We value and respect Maori and Pasifika cultures, and we provide an environment that promotes a sense of belonging, strong sense of cultural identity and teaching and learning that is holistic.

We value and respect tangata whenua, acknowledging the principles of Te tiriti o Waitangi in our daily practice. Te reo and tikanga is living and thriving and we encompass Pasifika values, identity, and languages. We embrace Te Whāriki and are committed to supporting all children ‘to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society’.

At Wonderland, we encourage talanoa, working collaboratively to ensure the wairua of our people and spaces remain healthy and nurtured. We are committed to support all children’s learning, working together with parents and whānau, we provide meaningful learning experiences which ensure independent children, who are healthy in mind (hinengaro), body (tinana) and spirit (wairua).

Peter Pan Childcare is a purpose-built early learning centre that provides education and care for children aged 3 months and 5 years old. Although children are grouped according to age, there is flexibility in our programme that enables children to visit other classrooms during the day.

At Peter Pan Childcare Centre, we strive for professional excellence in all that we do. We are committed to providing the highest standard of education and care for the children who attend our centre and we aim to offer the same standard of service to parents and whānau. We acknowledge that our community of learners include children, teachers, parents, whānau and community members who are dedicated to promoting a life-long love of learning. We celebrate our multicultural learning community respecting the individual identity of each child and family and we endeavour to support each other, sharing the same vision and encouraging the same goals for our children.

Our Vision

To create a Reggio Emilia-inspired early learning centre, where all children have a sense of belonging and thrive as learners.

To foster children's meaningful learning and wellbeing, building upon their innate competence, curiosity and imagination, enabling them to contribute to their own learning through many languages of expression and communication.

Our Philosophy

A strong, holistic image of the child as a unique, competent individual is central to our philosophy. We think that young children have a tremendous capacity for learning, as they investigate and develop their own theories about the world around them. We believe they will thrive in a secure learning environment that supports their wellbeing, sparks their wonderful curiosity, and develops their potential through exploration and discovery. We understand that children learn best in a caring environment, where parents and whānau are welcomed as vital members of our learning community.

Our teaching is inspired by the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki and the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach. We believe that by listening closely to children, we can cultivate their interests, sense of wonder and questions about their world. With this in mind, we offer children exciting learning opportunities that acknowledge their love of spontaneity, imagination and fun, providing flexible routines and respecting each child's particular interests and needs.

Children deserve a peaceful learning environment that is beautiful and stimulating; one that provokes creative and critical thinking, and enables them to learn collaboratively with one another. To support their developing thinking and communication skills, we believe in allowing ample time for extended learning conversations with children. As teacher-researchers, we reflect on the deeper meaning in their learning and strive to make that learning visible through pedagogical documentation.

Our Guiding Principles & Values

We acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori as tangata whenua and are committed to the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. We value respect for all members of our learning community - children, staff, parents and whānau, and respect for diversity. We value respect for children's wellbeing and learning, and for listening to and showing empathy for others. We value success in learning, communication, relationships and social interactions. We value sustainability and respect for our environment and the world around us.