Our Programmes
We have a strong emphasis on being in nature where tamariki are able to explore and learn about the natural environment.
Doing what kids have done for centuries – playing with nature, climbing trees, splashing in puddles, making mud cakes and caring for one another – builds resilience, cooperation, perseverance, playfulness and risk taking.
We believe this is the very best use of our resources and that we are preparing our tamariki to become the citizens of the future, who will help protect the environment and our communities for healthy, happy tamariki and whanau of the future.
Enviroschools
We have 24 kindergartens signed up to the Enviroschools programme. These Kindergartens are supported by two active Kindergartens South facilitators.
The holistic and non-prescriptive nature of our Early Childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, supports the successful integration of the Enviroschools kaupapa of “creating a healthy, peaceful and sustainable world through learning and taking action together”. This kaupapa reminds our kaiako about teaching tamariki to love, care for and respect themselves, their peers, and the environment.
Enviroschools focuses on a ‘’whole center’ approach where our tamariki are involved in all aspects of the kindergarten’s life, taking action and changing the physical place, practices and ways of interacting in the kindergarten. The four areas that contribute to creating a sustainable environment and community are:
- Place – Wāhi
- People and Participation – Tangata
- Practices – Tikanga
- Programmes – Kaupapa Ako
Throughout the entire programme run five Guiding Principles – Ngā Mātāpono:
- Empowered Learners – learners participate in genuine ways in their community. Their creativity, perspectives and pātai are valued and honoured. They feel connected to the whenua and support each other as a learning community to create meaningful change and hopeful action
- Te Ao Māori – learners hold insight, knowledge and ways of being in relation to the taiao, honouring and acknowledging the intrinsic relationship of tangata whenua with this land. When we are envisioning and taking action for a sustainable future in our community, we are guided by the history, knowledge, tikanga, traditions and aspirations of local hapu`
- Sustainable Communities – learners act in ways that nurtures all aspects of nature, including people, now and in the future. By working together and supporting each other we create safe, healthy, equitable and thriving communities
- Learning for Sustainability – is an holistic, action and future-focused approach to learning, that engages our whole selves and addresses all aspects of our local and global environments
- Respect for diversity – all forms of identity and ability are respected to foster a society that is fair, peaceful and cooperative. Cultural traditions and practices from all people are experienced, valued and appreciated in learning spaces, honouring practices led by that community. Access to safe and engaging learning is available to everyone.
(retrieved from Enviroschools in the Early Years Handbook 2020, and Enviroschools website)
Kindergartens South works closely with the Regional Co-ordinator at Environment Southland, as well as Toimata (Enviroschools Foundation). This enables us to provide interesting informative workshops/webinars for our kaiako and to continue to grow our connections within the wider Southland community.
Kindergartens South holds the Enviroschools kaupapa in Early Childhood Education in Southland and we are proud to have this as a key point of difference for our Association.
Discovering Nature/Taiao Tūhura
“Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above … They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education” (David Polis)
When young tamariki learn about the concept of Kaitiakitanga, and learn to be kaitiaki, they learn to respect, care for, and protect people, places and things that are important to us all.
All tamariki who partake in Taiao Tūhura are supported to develop then demonstrate a sense of responsibility for the living world and knowledge about how to care for it.
We are lucky to be able to access spaces in our communities where tamariki can go and experience an unhurried, ataahua environment. From Myross Road to Ivy Russell Reserve; from Dolamore Park to Ivor Wilson Park to Mores Reserve. We are truly fortunate to have so many exciting spaces for our tamariki.
Kindergartens South continues to value the learning tamariki experience when they are out in nature.