Our Preschool Area
Welcome to our pre-school area, where children are inspired and supported to grow to their full potential.
Welcome to the Preschool Area of Lilliput
Our Preschool area is a continuation of the philosophy and practices of our Pēpi area. A homely atmosphere, where relationships are at the heart of everything we do. Relationships are established on manaakitanga; kindness, aroha, respect, and compassion.
Our preschool area caters to tamariki aged two years to six years old. This age range is because we acknowledge that not all whānau want their tamariki to start school at the same age. This gives our whānau opportunities and flexibility over when their tamaiti starts school.
Kaiako With a High Level of Commitment
At Lilliput, we constantly have over 80% trained kaiako, and more often than not we pride ourselves in having 100% trained kaiako each day. Lilliput kaiako experience the joy that comes from being with tamariki.
They are passionate about and dedicated to continually providing the best possible care and education to all tamariki and whānau. Our kaiako are committed to life-long learning, where they actively keep up to date with the latest research around best practices within early childhood and education.
This results in our teaching practices and programme continually evolving to be the best we can make it. Our kaiako collaborate with each other to ensure changes are relevant and purposeful, keeping the tamariki best interests at the heart of all decisions.
Lilliput is a happy and supportive place to work and provides not only our whānau but kaiako with a home-away-from-home and in doing so we pride ourselves in low kaiako turnover.
Key Teacher
In the preschool area, Noelia and Jess are our key teachers, who over time will become emotionally attuned to your child. They are responsible for nappy changes, toilet training, bottles, lunches, and sleeping routines of the younger tamariki.
Having a key teacher is important for your tamaiti as well as you the whānau, as it helps to build strong bonds as well as reciprocal and responsive relationships. As key teachers, Noelia and Jess will help your tamaiti feel confident, comfortable, and secure in this new and exciting environment.
Starting at a centre can be daunting for whānau, it is important that you have the opportunity to develop a trusting relationship with the kaiako your tamaiti has connected with. It is important that you feel confident discussing the needs, wishes, and aspirations of your tamaiti and that these are constantly being met. We acknowledge that sometimes your tamaiti will connect with another kaiako. Where this happens, we will support and foster this relationship by ensuring this kaiako is available for your tamaiti.
Relationships
At Lilliput, all of our relationships are founded on manaakitanga (respect and kindness). The kaiako and whānau work together in partnership to ensure children’s innate eagerness to learn is nurtured and extended, and whānau hopes and aspirations are conceptualised.
We ensure we work collaboratively, collectively, and collegially with tamariki, kaiako, and whānau to ensure the best possible outcomes for all tamariki. Authentic relationships are a huge part of our programme and we strive to develop robust relationships with tamariki and their whānau, installing a sense of value, self-worth, acceptance, empathy, and openness.
The kaiako see themselves as partners in the learning journey of each tamaiti, with the whānau being the most important people in to that tamaiti.
Our role is to support this relationship and to build open communication with whānau based on respect, kindness, acceptance, and collaboration. We listen intently to whānau hopes and aspirations and do our best to make these a part of our programme.
Tamaiti Initiated Learning
Our kaiako celebrate the strengths and capabilities that everyone brings to Lilliput. The term ako is evident throughout our entire programme where kaiako, tamariki, and whānau all learn from each other. Our programme invigorates the individuality of each tamaiti and provides learning experiences that are flexible and cater to the uniqueness of each and every tamaiti.
Our programme is flexible, ensuring tamariki have plenty of time to explore and to excite their curiosity. We are committed to ensuring all tamariki have endless possibilities to take charge of their own learning through play and robust relationships with people, places, and things. With this in mind, we ensure that our programme is full of rich and complex opportunities, where they can explore and investigate the world around them, within a well-resourced environment. We hold a powerful image of all tamariki , and know when they are provided with an environment and opportunities that build upon, supports, and nurtures their strengths and interests we are setting the foundations for successful lifelong learning.
Our commitment to lifelong learning is evident throughout all areas of our programme. We support our tamariki to see themselves as capable and competent learners. Learners that discover how to be confident in taking risks, to tackle challenges and opportunities with optimism, and to be resourceful, and persistent. All tamariki are born with an innate desire to learn, we harness this desire by encouraging tamariki to ask questions, to persist with difficulty, to be resilient by learning from all experiences, to collaborate with others as a thoughtful team player, and by thinking imaginatively as well as in a disciplined way.
We value the learning that happens naturally during play. Play provokes the senses of tamariki, inspires their imagination and creativity, and stimulates an enquiring mind. Our kaiako conscientiously and deliberately weave the curriculum areas naturally throughout our programme in meaningful and enjoyable ways. Tamariki spontaneously explore and experiment with a wide variety of literacy, mathematics, science, and health and fitness throughout the day and are supported by kaiako who authentically extend their learning and understanding. Fostering their curious minds to reach their full potential.
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Tamariki Reaching Their Full Potential
Language is a huge and important part of our programme; language is the most complex skill a person can learn and is the foundation for thinking, learning, literacy, and development. During early childhood, language development happens best during play, as play consists of extensive language experiences, providing endless opportunities for complex language development. Through rich and complex language, the brains of tamariki are being wired for a complex world.
To encourage tamariki to develop a strong oral base, kaiako naturally and thoughtfully expose tamariki to an abundance of rich and meaningful language that enables tamariki to become powerful communicators.
At Lilliput Preschool, we are excited about our ever-evolving natural environment, where the tamariki have opportunities to be a part of the wonders of our natural world. Tamariki are encouraged to become kaitiaki (caregivers) of our land and take great pride in caring for our gardens, the worm farm, and the visiting birds and insects. The Tauranga Boys College Soccer Field, which backs onto our Centre, provides the tamariki with ample space to stretch their physical abilities and connect with our local area.
PĒPI TO PRESCHOOL
Transitioning
Lilliput Preschool consists of two areas, the Pēpi area, and the Preschool area. Research states that secure relationships with trusted adults are crucial in the first few years of life. With this research, we ensure that tamariki and their whānau are guided and supported through all transitions. When a tamaiti starts at Lilliput or transitions from the Pēpi area, we take our time, following the lead, cues, and preferences of the tamaiti.
We ensure a tamaiti has plenty of opportunities to visit the Preschool area, with their trusted adult (key teacher or whānau), where they start to build a relationship with the key teachers or another kaiako of their choice. Over time these visits become more frequent and for more sustained periods, and in doing so the relationship with their key teacher slowly deepens. It is vital that we follow the lead of the tamaiti, empowering them to stretch their social circle, take risks, and trust others.
Morning Tea
In the Preschool area, we provide morning tea for all the tamariki.
The tamariki are involved in helping to bake and prepare morning tea, encouraging independence, confidence, self-help skills, and other curriculum areas such as maths, literacy, and science.
Morning tea consists of baking, toast, crackers, and wraps, accompanied by seasonal fruit.
Sleep Room
In the sleep room, we have calm, relaxing music continuously playing in the background. In addition, your tamaiti will have their own mattress, which is located in the same place each time they sleep. This helps to develop a feeling of security and belonging, as your tamaiti knows their own special place for sleeping.
When going to sleep, we will support your tamaiti to go to bed in a caring and nurturing way, offering cuddles, following the routines they are used to at home. One of us will stay in the sleep room with your tamaiti until they have drifted off to sleep, then they will be physically checked every 7 to 10 minutes.
Portfolios
Each tamaiti has their own portfolio at Lilliput. The portfolio will include regular learning stories that document the interests, learning, and development of your tamaiti.
You are welcome to take the portfolio of your tamaiti home at any time to look through yourself or to show whānau and friends. Lilliput also uses an online portfolio system.
Through the online portfolio, you and other whānau members (Grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc) can log on and access the learning stories of your tamaiti.
This also provides whānau with an easy way to add feedback and comments. Feedback and comments about learning and development of your tamaiti at home are always appreciated.
Sunhats
Lilliput provides a sunhat for each tamaiti with their name embroidered on the front, please let us know what colour sunhat you would like.
Sunscreen
We apply sunscreen between the months of September to April. Tamariki get sunscreen applied at around 10 am and again at 2 pm each day, depending upon their routines. Let us know if your tamaiti is allergic to certain brands of sunscreen.