TASK TWO:

MY HOME

CENTRE

MY HOME CENTRE:A “FIRST STEPS”

CENTRE

Opening hours:7am-6pm, Mon-Fri.

Eight babies (‘Lil Tots’) enrolled.

Approximately 20 toddlers (‘Big Tots’) enrolled.

Ratio = One teacher : five babies (1:5)

Two licenses:1) Licensed for Infant care (ages 3 months to 2 and a half years old)2) Licensed for Toddlers/Preschool (ages 2-3 and 3-5)

Multicultural

A mix of qualified teachers and training teachers.

CENTRE PHILOSOPHY

• Acknowledge and embrace the multiculturism of the surrounding community and of the families associated with the centre.

• Maintain the use and respect of Te reo Maori and Tikanga Maori within the centre.

• Always ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children in the centre.

• Upholding the principles of Te Whariki within the centre to promote happiness and wellbeing in all children.

OVERVIEW OF THE CENTREThe babies room at my home centre is divided into two separate areas. The main space is dedicated to toddlers. The smaller area, blocked off by a gate, is dedicated to infants.

Infants space

• Nature corner

• Art and messy play

space

• Music area

• Reading nook

• “Family play” area

• Eating area

• Mihi wall

• Photo wall

• Learning story &

dispositions wall

• Large mirror

Toddlers space• Nature corner• Art and messy play space• Music area• Reading nook• “Family play” area• Construction/block play zone• Eating area• Mihi wall• Portfolio wall• Learning story &dispositions wall• Large mirror

There is a fully-covered deck adjoining the babies room, where the parents/whanau enter. This space includes a built-in play house, a large couch, shelving, a large locked storage cupboard, a mini portable circus-like tent and lots of cleardeck area for a variety of activities.

There is a window above the couchwhich looks into the infants room. Thetoddlers often use this to interact withthe infants and teachers by waving andmaking funny faces.

We often set up mats and children’schairs, couches and large floorcushions on the far end of the deckso infants and toddlers aresafe and comfortable.Mat times are often held on the deck.

OVERVIEW OF THE CENTRE

OVERVIEW OF THE CENTRE

L e a r n i n g S p a c e : N a t u r e A r e a

Location: The babies’ nature area is situated in a well-lit corner under the window in the babies room.

Interactions: Mostly child/self-directed play and exploration. Teachers interact with the babies by encouraging exploration of resources and textures by using techniques such as demonstration (e.g. how to rub the sheep-skin against your skin to feel the soft texture).

Ensuring Safety: Teachers ensure the learning area is safe by:• Removing/repairing

damaged resources as soon as possible.

• Ensuring heavier play resources are on the floor or the bottom shelf so they do not fall on the infants.

• Providing properly cleaned natural resources to avoid illness.

L e a r n i n g S p a c e : N a t u r e A r e a

Set up of resources: Play resources include:• A wide range of exotic toy

animals• Flax baskets• Sheep-skin and other

similar natural textures• Discovery Bottles• A variety of driftwood, log

slices, shells and starfish• Images of birds, plants,

animals and insects• Pinecones• Animal print materials

The play resources are set up in a variety of ways and combinations each day. All the resources are kept tidy on a low, infant-friendly bookshelf when the infants are not using them.

L e a r n i n g S p a c e : N a t u r e A r e a

Value of play and exploration in this space

Te Whāriki“Strand 5: Exploration –Mana AotūroaChildren experience an environment where:Goal 1 – their play is valued as meaningful learning and the importance of spontaneous play is recognised.Children develop…the knowledge that trying things out, exploration, and curiosity are important and valued ways of learning.” (Ministry of Education, 1996.)

When the infants explore and play with the resources in the nature area they encounter a range of learning experiences that encourage the development of their primary senses (e.g. taste, touch and smell) and spatial awareness. Curiosity is the biggest motivation in infants in this learning area; and exploration is expressed more than play.

REFERENCES

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki matauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.