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Our Vision
Inspired by the winding path of the Kawatiri River, we believe in fostering a lifelong love for learning.
Just as the river carves its way through various landscapes, we encourage tamariki and work in partnership with whānau to explore and navigate each child’s own unique learning journey.
We value the interconnectedness between nature and community, as we nurture the growth of inquisitive minds and compassionate hearts through intentional teaching. Throughout the centre we value supporting the tamariki with social and emotional skills as well as bicultural, inclusive understanding and diversity. Together, we flow through the wonders of knowledge and build a strong foundation for the future.
Whānau love the rich sense of community at Busy Bees Kawatiri. We believe that we have an important part to play in our local Westport community and a very special opportunity to positively impact the lives of our young tamariki in their early stages of development. We love to explore our local Westport community as we believe it helps to enhance tamariki’s knowledge about people, places, things and events.
Our Environment
We are lucky to have a covered outdoor environment which enables children to use this space all year round. Tamariki enjoy looking for gold in the lazy river, climbing the moveable playground, making creations in the sandpit and zooming around the bike track. Within the 2 rooms we encourage and provide opportunities for open-ended play, invitation play, creative play, construction, sensory, imaginative, literacy-focus and numeracy-focus play.
Papura Room (up to 2 years)
Our Papura Room is based on building loving and trusting bonds between pēpi. Kaiako work closely with whānau to understand children’s cues and develop a routine that supports tamariki natural rhythms. Kaiako utilise sensory play, outdoor exploration, music and movement to create a fun, interactive atmosphere whilst maintaining a focus on the love, care and affection that pēpi need to thrive. Our approach is guided by the uniqueness of each child. We recognise that every child is different, and we strive to meet their individual needs by creating a safe, nurturing, and challenging environment.
Kowhai Room (2-6 years)
We know big changes happen during this time like increased independence and more curious questions. When our toddlers are ready to move into the Kowhai room they are supported with transition visits whereby our educators welcome each toddler with open arms and patience. The environment is prepared to entice children’s curiosity and exploration where testing, trying and challenge is valued. We support childhood learning with a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and supportive of all children during this age of discovery and wonder.
Our Preschool programme provides opportunities throughout the day for children to be involved in contributing to the curriculum, helping to make decisions about what is set up, and sharing their ideas to slowly prepare our little ones for their next learning adventure. The room is full of challenges for our children to grow and spread their wings. Tamariki are encouraged to care for others, the environment and their own property and are supported to understand their growing sense of responsibility for themselves and the world around them.
Our dedicated cook and centre team is currently striving towards the Pā-Harakeke Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award from the Heart Foundation for the amazing things we do here to promote healthy food and physical activity.
We are a lunchbox centre. This promotes independence as well as encourages self-help skills in preparation for school. We encourage families to make healthy food choices and ensure their child’s pouaka kai (lunch box) meets centre guidelines as well as Ministry of Health criteria for Early Learning Services.
Teachers do regular baking with the children, which provides opportunities for them to engage and learn a range of food preparations skills and fine motor movements such as pouring, sifting, spooning. It is a great hands-on sensory experience for children to develop independence through self-help skills, practice simple maths as they measure and count quantities.
Fostering a Culture of Sustainability at Busy Bees Kawatiri by engaging children in activities like gardening, composting, and understanding the lifecycle of plants to not only promote environmental awareness but also inspire important life skills and values.
Free Transport Service
We proudly operate our own Busy Bees Kawatiri centre van, allowing us to help support both new and existing whānau who require assistance with transport to and from the centre. We also utilise this awesome resource for excursions out and about in our local Westport community!
Curriculum
We are guided by New Zealand’s bi-cultural curriculum Te Whāriki and acknowledge that children learn through play as well as planned experiences. Children will have opportunities to interact with and explore their environment, the people within it and be guided by teachers that recognise that play, problem-solving and exploration are important and valued ways of learning. Tamariki have the freedom to explore their own creativity and engage in experiences that foster this.
Passionate Teachers
We have a talented group of kaiako who have been selected based on their experience and passion within the Early Learning field, their professional knowledge of teaching and nurturing tamariki as well as their philosophy of education and knowledge of child development. Kaiako build meaningful, respectful relationships with tamariki and their whānau and work in partnership regarding all aspects of childrens’ learning, interests, goals and holistic development.
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