Your child has turned four and we welcome them to join Catherine in our Enrichment Programme

During your child’s time with us we are focussing on a play-based curriculum where dispositions such as Courage and Curiosity, Trust and Playfulness, Perseverance, Confidence, and Responsibility are noticed, recognised and responded to by the teachers. As children near the age of formal schooling we recognise their ability and hunger for some extra challenges and responsibility.

Our Enrichment Programme has been developed to work in tandem with Te Whāriki, the Early Childhood Curriculum and is aligned with the Key Competencies in Te marautanga o aotearoa the NZ Curriculum (school) which encompasses the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of:

NZ Curriculum Early Childhood Curriculum


Managing self


Wellbeing Mana atua

Participating and contributing


Belonging Mana whenua


Relating to others


Contribution Mana tangata


Using language, symbols, and texts


Communication Mana reo

Thinking


Exploration Mana aotūroa

Here at Campbells Bay ELC our kaiako have developed an unique philosophy which encompasses seven learning priorities (below) these guide our international teaching practices and positive early outcomes for children. They link to both the Early Childhood Curriculum and the NZ Curriculum.

Resilience
As children learn new things in the Enrichment Programme, they may face difficulties; this will to help them to develop perseverance. Having perseverance means that when you are facing a challenge, you use your mind and your body to overcome it. Having perseverance is the ability to do your best toward a goal even though it is a big challenge, this is an important skill for later years and in helping to develop resilience.
Early Literacy & Numeracy
A book will be sent home for your whanau to read together. Encourage your child to point to the words with you when you read together. You will notice that they may memorise to begin with, this is a good thing, we want them to develop the ability to recall and eventually they will be able to pick out letters and words they recognise in print.
Healthy Minds & Bodies
Please have fun reading the book. Let them read it as many times as they wish during that evening and return it in the book bag the next day. When the time comes we will engage in visits to Campbells Bay School where your child will experience a snippet of school life, by meeting teachers and their peers and seeing how the day runs.
Social Competence
In order to prepare for the independence that the school years bring encourage your child to organise and prepare their book for return the next day. This responsibility allows for a positive consequence; it leads to more trust and freedom later in life because people know they can count on you to do things, it also helps to keep you safe.
Creativity & Technology
We want children to have fun in their learning so Catherine incorporates a wide range of games and activities that will extend their skills and abilities; they have the opportunity to draw, write and model to increase dexterity in their fine muscles. There are also opportunities to participate in dramatic play (such as rein-acting a book or story).
Risk Taking
When we talk about Risky Play we mostly associate it with outdoor play, whilst this is true risk taking can also include; thinking outside the box, formulating personal inquiry and answering questions and feeling comfortable with uncertainty that helps children develop the confidence to participate in a group discussion or games. Catherine uses verbal language as a tool to get children thinking and sharing, she also recognises the value of large muscle development and engages in games such as Twister.

A little about Catherine

Catherine is a qualified and registered Primary School Teacher however she soon found that her passion lay in building foundations in the early years helping her children develop working theories, therefore the past 18 years has seen her work exclusively with four - five year old’s with the sole purpose of providing them with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and dispositions needed for success in the 
21st century.

Catherine has an engaging presence; her knowledge and energy motivates learning and the children look forward to their time spent with her.