Our curriculum

At Pipitea, we develop our own curriculum that is in line with our values, philosophy, current curriculum priorities and incorporates a bicultural and Kaupapa Māori curriculum.  It is  guided by the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum (Te Whāriki). We take a holistic approach that recognises all tamariki are competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society.

Unique in its bicultural framing, Te Whāriki expresses our vision that all tamariki growing up in New Zealand are competent and confident learners, strong in their identity, language and culture, emphasising our bicultural foundation, our multicultural present and the shared future we are creating, while encourages all tamariki to learn in their own ways, supported by kaiako who know them well and have their best interests at heart.

Our curriculum processes consist of a full cycle: curriculum design through to assessment, through to evaluation, and then back to curriculum design again.

We establish individual learning focuses for tamariki in consultation with tamariki and their whānau. These are formally recorded on Educa following whānau and kaiako conversations, but these can also be informal arrangements based on day-to-day conversations/discussions. Learning focuses are also visible to support all kaiako to be aware of the  current focuses of all tamariki and whānau aspiration. Alongside individual curriculum design, kaiako also design events and activities based on current group interests, cultural events and transitions in and out of the room.

Whānau aspiration (developed during settling in or whānau and kaiako meetings) + Kaiako professional knowledge of tamaiti = Tamaiti individual focus

He taonga te mokopuna, kia whāngaia, kia tipu, kia rea
A child is a treasure, to be nurtured, to grow, to flourish
(Te Whāriki – Early Childhood Curriculum, MOE 2017, p.2).