Whakatauki

Ma te whakaaro nui

Ka hanga ai te whare

A, ma te matauranga

Ka u ai

Ma te mohio hoki

Ka kii nga ruma

I nga taonga utu nui katoa

I nga mea ahuareka

By wisdom a house is built

And through understanding it is established

And through knowledge shall its rooms be filled

With all precious and pleasant riches

This whakatauki was gifted to the centre

by kaumatua Ellis Tepania

Centre Background

Rotorua Girls’ High School Childcare Trust is a small community based early childhood service, for up to 30 children from 3 months to 5 years old, providing a stimulating educational environment for all children. This centre was established around 1985 to provide a service for the local community. Today people from the wider Rotorua community, many of whom are linked with the education sector, use the centre. We believe in strong links and ongoing communication between children, parents, whānau, teachers and the trust committee. As a community of learners, we are dedicated to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all aspects of teaching and learning through the engagement of dual heritage practices. The centre works with the Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki, reflecting each child’s individual strengths and interests.

The centre is located within the Rotorua Girls’ High School grounds and is accessible via the school’s Miro Street driveway. We are close to the central business district of Rotorua which includes a varied range of social, economic and ethnic groups. Rotorua Girls’ High School Childcare Trust generally operates in conjunction with the primary school terms. The centre is open for approximately 43 weeks of the year, opening for shorter hours in the first three days of each holiday period as the primary schools, then closed until the new term starts.

Hours of operation are from 7.45 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. The centre caters mainly to families from local educational providers (teachers and students from local early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary establishments) and families within the community who do not require full year education and care. A large number of the children attend full time, with a few attending for two or three full days each week. Currently there are several cultures represented within the centre, with some children speaking English as their second language.

Within the teaching team there are teachers holding a variety of teaching qualifications. The centre has excellent teacher continuity, which is pivotal in building receptive and reciprocal relationships between children and whānau.

The centre operates within a flexible daily flow. We recognise that each child has an individual rhythm and we embrace this uniqueness. Each child has a Key Teacher who is in tune with the care moments of these rhythms. The Key Teacher works closely with the parents and whānau adjusting to what has happened at home and providing a smooth transition into the centre day. The care moments include eating, sleep and nappy changes. While the relationships developed are intimate, they are by no means exclusive and children are able to seek out other teachers at all times.

Each day can and does change according to the strengths and interests of the children, and other impacting influences

7.45 Centre opens.

Children begin to arrive with their parents and whānau, they are welcomed by the teachers. Morning tea, as children are ready to eat, or for younger children, as supported by their Key Teacher.

Children initiate their own programme of learning with support from teachers.

11.00 to 12.30 Rolling lunch

Determined by children and Key Teachers.

Sleep time, rest or quiet playing time.

1.30 Children begin to wake, and choose their own play

Afternoon tea as children are ready

3.00 Children continue with their learning through play as parents and whānau begin arriving

5.00 Centre closes

Included in this, are regular walks in the community to the local shops, parks, schools, library and rest home.