Rural Scholars Early Childhood Learning Centre, Waimate

Our Philosophy

• At Rural Scholars Early Learning Centre, we encourage tamariki (children) to form respectful and reciprocal relationships with our kararehe (animals), fostering them to develop the skills to nurture and care for their well-being.
• We believe that encouraging whakaute (respect) and takohanga (responsibility) for our animals fosters these dispositions in our tamariki, along with empathy and aroha (love).
• Caring for our kararehe includes regular visits to the farm where tamariki are immersed amongst Papaῡānuku (Earth Mother). Tamariki have the opportunity to explore as curious learners engaging their senses in the natural world.
• We believe there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing, providing authentic learning opportunities amongst the elements of Ranginui (Sky Father) to foster the tamariki understanding and knowledge of the world around them.
• Rural Scholars Early Learning Centre is committed to bi-culturalism and actively promotes te reo me tikanga Māori in authentic and meaningful ways to our ākonga (learners) and whānau (family).
• We endeavor to foster and educate our tamariki and whānau of the importance of sustainability, weaving it throughout our programme and practices. This reinforces our respectful relationship for Papatῡānuku.
• Our practices, programme and environment meaningfully and purposefully reflects Pasifika cultures and values through fa’aloalo (respect), alofa (love), auai (belonging) and talanoa (discussions).
• Our kaiako (teachers) purposefully provide rich and exciting learning experiences that promote a sense of pono (self-belief), māia (confidence) and competence.
• We believe tamariki learn through play, and we empower them to learn and grow through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things.
• We work alongside each tamaiti (child) to support their strengths and interests, noticing, recognising and responding to their interests, knowledge, development and dispositions to meaningfully foster their well-being.
• We encourage challenge, risk, participation and independence as we recognise this fosters tamariki pono (self-belief) to be affirmed and enhanced.
• We provide an environment that is rich in the curriculum domains (literacy, mathematics, science, technology, the arts and ICT) and foster learning experiences and topics that explore a diversity of languages and cultures to support our tamariki to be open minded and accepting members of our society.
• Links to the wider world of family and community are an integral part of our curriculum, celebrating with our whānau birthdays, cultures, special family occasions, successes and the learning that each tamaiti is involved in.
• We recognise that tamariki learn and develop holistically, needing their physical, mental and emotional, spiritual and social wellbeing’s to be nurtured alongside one another.
• Kaiako (teachers) plan for, implement and assess each child’s learning and development, and document this in their learning journals. Teachers discuss and make decisions for the provision of high quality care and education at fortnightly planning meetings.
• Rural Scholars Early Learning Centre is a place where tamariki and their whānau, and kaiako are valued and nurtured.
• We build warm and meaningful relationships based around respect with our tamariki, whānau, community and each other.
• We celebrate diversity, identity, individualism and welcome everyone into our inclusive environment.
• Our kaiako attend regular Professional Development to continue evolving as an effective educator having knowledge and an understanding of current research, ideas and beliefs to positively inform their practice.