The Journey

The Soul Room - Infants and Toddlers

The relationship is all. Developing a relationship with children and families that is real and genuine comes before everything else.

The Soul Room is a calm and nurturing environment, supported by teachers who are unhurried in their teaching practices. Children are free to explore the environment; both inside and outside.

Children will enjoy long periods of uninterrupted play. The teacher’s role in this very important process is to observe and only step in when required to do so.

All practices in the Soul Room are guided by the Pikler Principles. Everything that happens in this room is centred around the needs of the child. Important care moments such as feeding, nappy changing and sleeping are based on the individual requirements of the child.

Feeding
Infants are always held while being fed. They are never put into a position that they cannot get into themselves. Children are encouraged to develop their independence and can access their food when they feel hungry.

Sleeping
In the Soul Room children have the choice of either sleeping in a cot, hammock or mattress. Discussions are held with families around the needs of the child. It is preferred that parents be present for their child’s first sleep and there when they awake.

Nappy changing
Nappy changing is carried out in partnership with families. As with the sleeping routine, it is preferred that parents do their child’s first nappy change with the teacher observing. On the second nappy change the teacher changes the nappy with the parent observing. By doing this we are ensuring that we are best meeting the needs of your child.

Primary Care
Each child has a Primary Caregiver, who is responsible for the child’s daily needs and communicating with parents.

 

Transition - Over twos

Transitioning into the over two’s are is a process that is developed in partnership between family and teachers. The decision to transition the child to the older children's area, is based on several factors, such as the ability to manage self, communication, and physical and social competency.

 

Explorers 

At Footprints we are passionate about exploring nature and our wider community and what it has to offer our children. At the centre we conduct trips for our older children so that they have the opportunity to have real life experiences. No two days are the same –one day we could be making biscuits in a café, the next day we could be walking along the track to Cathedral Cove in Ha Hei or spending the day at the beach or bush.

The Explorers programme allows children to take responsibility and direction for their own learning and apply knowledge that they have gained from the centre in a different context. 

 

Transition to School

Starting the transition to school is a process that is carried out in partnership between the parent and teacher.

This process normally starts a year before the child is ready to start school. At this time teachers will start to make links between the child’s learning at the centre and school.

To support this process children are exposed to a wide range of experiences at the centre. Examples of these include visits to local business and outings into the natural environment, such as Waihi Beach, nearby parks, walking tracks and streams.

Teachers will also accompany children on school visits and then develop a school readiness booklet to give to the child’s new entrant teacher that demonstrates the child’s school readiness.

We are advocates for children staying at the centre until they turn 6 years of age.