Our Rooms

Active Explorers Richmond has four separate rooms, purpose-built and fully equipped for each age and stage. Children have open access to age-appropriate resources to encourage spontaneous play.

We create a warm, peaceful environment for our infants and toddlers, allowing them to discover as much as possible on their own, with the comfort of knowing that a familiar teacher is close by for support.

Our holistic approach to learning gives our young children the freedom to explore, and take responsibility for their learning by making decisions, choosing their own materials and problem solving.

Tui Room

Catering for our youngest learners, our Tui room is a calm and nurturing space for children aged 3 months to 1 year.

Kiwi Room

Our Kiwi Room provides a safe and nurturing environment for our children aged from 1 to 2 years. 

Daily Routine

7:30 am: Centre opens / free play

9:00 am:  Clean up time

9.15 am:  Morning kai

9:30 am:  Free play 

10:00am:  Sleep time/free play 

11:00 am: Clean up time / group time

11:15 am: Lunch                                             

11.45 am:  Sleep time/free play

2:00 pm:  Clean up time

2.15 pm:  Afternoon kai

4:30 pm:  Late kai

5:45 pm:  Centre closes

This routine is flexible to meet children’s needs throughout the day.  Children sleep and have bottles as required for their individual routine.  Learning experiences are provided throughout the day. Nappy changes are completed throughout the day.t

Teina Group (2 to 3.5 year olds)

Tuakana Group (3.5 to 5 year olds)

 

Over the past year we have been researching, investigating, and observing our children’s social and emotional competence.  We have worked closely with the Ministry of Education resource “He Mapuna te Tamaiti – Supporting Social and Emotional Competence in Early Learning”.

“He Mapuna te Tamaiti – Supporting Social and Emotional Competence in Early Learning’ says that toddlers and young children are becoming increasingly capable of reflecting on their learning and behaviour.  Reflection helps children to manage their own learning, make choices, persist at tasks and have the confidence to use time, space and resources in complex, creative ways.

Our early childhood curriculum “Te Whariki” mentions that children develop by participating actively in opportunities that are available to them.  These typically involve collaboration with adults and other children.  Working together for the common good develops a spirit of sharing, togetherness and reciprocity, which is valued by many cultures.

To support children’s learning we combine our Teina and Tuakana groups so that we are using one large space instead of two smaller spaces, this is known as the Piwakawaka Classroom.  The benefits of this are:

• There will be more curriculum areas and activities available each day.
• Older children will have opportunities to take on responsibility – leading karakia, setting tables, helping younger children – buddy system.
• Children will be empowered to direct their own learning.
• Learning to play alongside children of different age groups, forming new friendships.
• Positive role modelling.
• Growing social skills.
• Language development.
• Teachers will be rostered so that there is more sustained intentional teaching.
• More teacher voices in the children’s learning stories giving a bigger picture of children’s learning.

 

Daily Routine:

7.30am            Centre opens/child led free play

9.30am            Morning kai

9.45am            Free play and learning

11.30am          Clean up time

11.40am          Mat time

11.50am          Lunch (Teina Group)

12.00noon      Lunch (Tuakana Group)

12.10pm          Sleep time and free play

2.00pm            Afternoon kai

2.15pm            Free play and learning

5.45pm            Centre closes