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Spacious and Natural Environment
Our centre is well maintained, with natural resources and equipment to inspire inquisitive minds and provide physical challenges for children of all ages, in both our indoor and outdoor environments.
With huge, outdoor play areas, for both our under and over 2’s, our children have plenty of space to explore nature in a safe environment.
Our babies can discover little garden friends, with teachers alongside, and our preschoolers have plenty of space to run, jump and play. Outdoor exploration such as planting and bug hunts, encourage their curiosity and learning, and well as being loads of fun!
We have separate rooms, catering to each age and stage of play and development, as well as areas where tamariki can come together to share tuakana-teina (older-younger child) interactions where wonderful teaching moments are shared.
Guiding Authentic Learning Pathways
Pathways to Exploration, Discovery, and Adventure!
Smooth transitions are not just about moving from one thing to another; they’re about nurturing a child’s sense of security, belonging, and confidence as they navigate their journey of growth and discovery. We’re here to support you and your tamaiti. An individual centered needs approach is taken to best suit the needs of you and your tamaiti. We use settling visits as a way to get to know you and your child, discuss current routines, and for you to see what a day in the life at Busy Bees Whitby looks like!
We use an online platform called Storypark to capture your childs learning during their days with us. We use this as a way to communicate with you, and share photos of your little one so that you know they are comfortable from their very first day.
Pathways to preschool
We foster pathways without obstacles. The transition is not based on age, rather stage. The process is based of readiness and agency displayed by the tamaiti and whānau wishes.
We cater to the individual needs of the tamaiti and whānau. This is done through our Pathways to preschool hui, where whānau korero with a kaiako from each room to discuss the transition.
We tailor the transition to cater for the tamaiti with a holistic lens that cares for their emotional wellbeing. Relationships are at the heat of the transition process. Kaiako spend intentional time getting to know the tamaiti and whānau to establish the foundations before they are in a new environment. Through invitations to Preschool, following the tamaiti lead, and open conversations with whānau, tamariki establish their sense of belonging and connectedness to Preschool.
Food and Nutrition
We are extremely proud that we have received a Rito Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award from the Heart Foundation for the amazing things we do here to promote healthy food and physical activity.
Our inhouse cook provides freshly made meals for children each day using our Nourish menus and recipes, based on the New Zealand Heart Foundation Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award for Early Learning Centres. We believe that through nourishing food, children are fueled to thrive physically and mentally, whilst enjoying the benefits of coming together and connecting as a group at mealtimes.
Curriculum
We are committed to follow the aspirations of the New Zealand National ECE Curriculum, Te Whāriki. Te Whāriki envisages kaiako in early learning settings working in partnership with parents, whānau and community to realise this vision. The expectation is that, in their early years, children will experience a curriculum that empowers them as lifelong learners, right from their early exploration of the world around them, through to preparation for school.
Pathways to Kura
As tamariki start on their journey to kura, we work in partnership with whānau to create a smooth transition to kura. We share our knowledge about your tamati through the lens of our curriculum, Te Whariki and linking this to kura. We use our professional knowledge and our relationships with local kura through the kahui ako, to share with whānau.
From this we work together to action individual goals to foster positive pathway to kura and beyond. Setting them up to be life long learners!
We capture their pathway to kura through meaningful discussions, and celebrate their journey with a whakawhiti with whānau.
Our plaques represent tamariki who have left to go to kura both locally and further afield. Teachers spend time with a child nearing the age of 5 to complete their handprints, and we add the child's ingoa (their name) along with their leave date and the kura they are going to.
This is a right of passage in our centre and a tradition we have continued, the plaques began back December 2013 and today, you will notice plaques in the entranceway and are now beginning to cover our front fence!
Whānau Check-Ins
At Busy Bees Whitby we embody the concept of whanaungatanga by hosting whānau check-ins bi-annually at a minimum. Whānau check-ins provide an opportunity for you to have an uninterrupted korero to reconnect with Kaiako and action or revisit learning goals, aspirations and discuss what’s on top for you at home.
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