Our Place

We aim to foster an environment that demonstrates genuine respect towards young children and their whanau.

To reflect this, we have created a beautiful, homely setting in which your children have freedom to learn, explore, research, challenge themselves and grow. This is also a place where you, as their whanau, are always welcome.

Our environment has been designed with lots of movable or loose parts rather than static structures, so your children can explore and develop their creative, constructive and lateral thinking skills.  We actively encourage children to connect with the natural environment and natural resources, which we know provides rich and varied experiences for our children.

Our programme fosters the love of learning and encourages skills such as leadership, cooperation, negotiation, respect and responsibility.

Our programme is based on our own extensive experience in early childhood and in-depth knowledge of children’s cognitive learning and social development – and is also now reflected within many primary schools.

These schools are moving towards collaborative classrooms where they are looking for children to be self-directed learners who show initiative, leadership and responsibility – all skills we will nurture in your children.

Our Daily Routines

At Step Ahead we have a calm and respectful environment.  Our daily routine provides consistency around everyday activities such as settling, kai time, learning and play, we  also encourage and respect quiet, reflective times.  Our children learn through play and we offer an environment that allows for solitary, small group and large group play.  We follow what is known as the ’emergent curriculum’ whereby children play, research and explore areas of interest to them.  As teachers we extend the children in their interest areas through rich conversations, research opportunities and provocations and invitations.

If you are new to Step Ahead, we encourage a number of settling visits, so your child can get to know our team, our environment and our routines, to make their transition a little easier.

We encourage you, as parents and whānau, to take time at the end of the day to learn about our day’s activities to better understand the achievements and discoveries of your amazing children each and every day.

Our Mealtimes

Our children have morning tea at 9.30am, whereby they can eat food from their lunchbox that has been provided from home.  At lunchtime,  we all eat together as a whānau, again with kai that has been provided from home. This ensures your children’s unique dietary needs are catered to, and also reinforces the positive nutritional values you have established at home.  It also allows for children to make their own food choices as well as becoming independent in opening their own lunchbox, containers and food.

Our Fees

All fees are payable one week in advance. We accept direct debit and internet banking. Please see our fee policy in the centre for further information.