Here at Little Steps, our philosophy can be summed up in one statement: “I can, because I am strong, I believe, and I belong”. We believe that by the time our tamariki are ready to take the next steps beyond early childhood education, they will be confidently living that statement.
At Little Steps we create a safe, engaging environment which promotes natural rhythms of play, discovery and self directed learning. Tamariki are supported and guided through loving relationships and genuine connections with their kaiako. Love (aroha), respect (manaakitanga), and care (awhi) are at the heart of all that we do. Here at Little Steps, our connections with family and community (whanaungatanga) are highly valued and are an integral part of our curriculum.
While at Little Steps, children will see, hear and feel their culture represented within the environment. The three official languages of New Zealand: English, Te Reo Maori, and NZ sign language, will be a natural part of their day.
A breakdown of the statement:
I can
‘I can’ refers to the inner confidence in their own mana, abilities and who they are. Our tamariki know that no matter what challenges they face, no matter what environment they are in, they will possess the dispositions to get through, and thrive. Therefore, they have the confidence to say “I can do this”.
I am strong
Strength here refers to physical strength (taha tinana) as well as mental and emotional strength (taha hinengaro). At Little Steps we are passionate about leading healthy lifestyles. We endeavour to lead by example and show our little ones how to keep their bodies, mind, and environment healthy and strong. Sustainable practices are important to us as we guide our tamariki to be kaitiaki (guardians) of our world.
When we think strength, we also think resilience. We want our tamariki to have the dispositions and strategies to successfully cope with whatever they may face in their lives. We will help our tamariki to develop strategies to deal with uncomfortable conflicts and emotions, and find healthy ways to move forward.
Along with this, we place importance on dispositions such as perseverance, problem-solving, and a never give up attitude.
I believe
Belief (taha wairua) at Little Steps is two-fold; we believe in ourselves and we believe in the people around us. Our tamariki believe and trust in their kaiako because we are truly there to help, love, and support them. They believe in themselves, because we believe in them. We help to equip our tamariki with a strong sense of trust in their own abilities. We support our tamariki to appreciate and strengthen their natural talents, while having the ability to show grit and work hard in areas which aren’t so easy.
We also encourage this belief and trust to be shown to all members of our community at Little Steps. Our tamariki learn how to build others up, to see the best in each other, and to create a culture of encouragement and love.
I belong
A strong sense of belonging (mana whenua) is an important factor in our overall health and wellbeing. During their time at Little Steps, our tamariki are being affirmed as individuals. They are learning to passionately love who they are, embracing their mana and what they bring to the world. We provide a framework of love and an environment which reflects each individual child, celebrating their culture and uniqueness. By the time they leave Little Steps, our tamariki can be confident in any situation, because they have a deep understanding that they are important, and they have a right to belong anywhere they go. To support this, we help our children to begin to build some connections with our wider community. Frequent excursions into our local community, as well as close relationships with surrounding schools will help our children to find familiarity, feel connected, and understand their place in their community.
At Little Steps our curriculum and practice is underpinned and guided by our commitment to The Treaty of Waitangi and ECE Curriculum Te Whāriki 2017
