Our Philosophy
At Little Minerva Preschool, we value the uniqueness of every child, recognising each one as an individual with their own strengths, interests and potential. We create respectful, nurturing learning environments where children feel safe, valued and empowered to explore, discover and make sense of the world around them. Our Kaiako build warm, trusting relationships that foster confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Inspired by Montessori principles and Te Whāriki (New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum). Our programme encourages inquiry-based learning through meaningful, hands-on experiences. Children’s natural curiosity is nurtured as they actively explore their environment, ask questions, solve problems, learn self help skills and make discoveries. Carefully prepared learning experiences support each child’s interests while extending their knowledge, creativity and understanding.
Every child is supported by a key teacher who develops a deep understanding of their learning, development and wellbeing. Through ongoing observation, assessment and partnership with whānau, our Kaiako create individual learning experiences that reflect each child’s strengths, interests and goals. These learning journeys are thoughtfully documented, creating a meaningful record of each child’s early years.
At Little Minerva Preschool, we are committed to nurturing the whole child through creativity, physical activity, healthy living, te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, a connection with nature, positive relationships and cognitive development.
We believe every child deserves the opportunity to flourish in an environment where they feel inspired, respected and supported to reach their full potential.
“At Little Minerva Preschool, we are committed to nurturing the whole child by fostering creativity, physical wellbeing, healthy living, te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, a love of nature, positive relationships, and cognitive development”.
Our Approach to Learning
Nurturing creativity:
Creativity is woven throughout every aspect of our curriculum, providing children with opportunities to express themselves, explore new ideas and develop confidence.
Drama encourages imaginative play, purposeful learning and critical thinking, allowing children to explore different perspectives while developing empathy, confidence and communication skills.
Music is an important part of life at Little Minerva Preschool. Through singing, movement, rhythm, and a variety of musical instruments, children develop listening skills, coordination, creativity, and a love of music.
Physical activity:
At Little Minerva Preschool, we believe that active children are confident learners. Throughout the day, children enjoy a variety of teacher-guided and child-led physical experiences that promote movement, coordination, balance, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.
Our programme supports the development of gross and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, turn-taking, and teamwork, helping children build strong bodies while developing the skills they need for everyday life.
Healthy living:
Healthy living is an important part of our daily programme. Our on-site chef prepares nutritious meals using fresh vegetables, whole grains and wholesome ingredients while minimising processed foods.
Children are encouraged to develop healthy eating habits through shared mealtimes and hands-on cooking experiences, giving them opportunities to learn about nutrition, explore new foods, and build confidence in the kitchen.
Te Reo and Tikanga:
At Little Minerva Preschool, we celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique bicultural heritage while embracing the diversity of our community. We foster respect for ourselves, others and the world around us through the integration of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori into our daily programme.
Children and whānau are welcomed with warmth and respect, while opportunities to share cultures, traditions, and whakapapa help create a strong sense of belonging. Our learning environment encourages appreciation, inclusion, and respect for all cultures.
A Love of nature:
Our outdoor environment provides endless opportunities for children to connect with the natural world through exploration, discovery and play. Children investigate sand, water, mud, trees, rocks, plants, insects, and seasonal changes while developing curiosity and respect for the environment.
Whether caring for the vegetable garden, observing insects, or engaging in imaginative outdoor play, children develop confidence, resilience, and an appreciation for the world around them.
Building Positive Relationships
At Little Minerva Preschool, we are committed to helping every child develop positive relationships, empathy, and the social skills needed to become confident and capable members of their community.
Through collaborative play, shared experiences, and respectful interactions, children learn kindness, cooperation, communication, and problem-solving while developing a strong sense of belonging within our preschool.
Cognitive growth:
We provide a balanced programme of child-led exploration and thoughtfully planned learning experiences that support each child’s individual stage of development. As children prepare for school, learning opportunities naturally extend to build early literacy, numeracy, independence, and problem-solving skills.
Our Montessori materials complement a rich range of learning resources, allowing children to engage in purposeful, hands-on learning during dedicated Montessori work cycles. Guided by our Kaiako, children are encouraged to make choices, develop concentration, and build confidence as independent learners.
We work closely with local schools and our wider community to support a positive and successful transition to school, with the goal of inspiring capable, curious, and lifelong learners.
Our daily class routine:
7:30 – 9:25 Kaiako (teachers) welcome whānau (family) and Tamariki (children), Tamariki settle in with quiet activities set out.
9:25 Kaiawhina (class leader) will ring the bell, Tamariki use their helping hands and work together to tidy up the environment and get ready for our whāriki (mat) time.
9:30 Mat time (Whāriki) – Kaiako and Tamariki will sing a welcome song go over the days of the week, weather, alphabet phonics and shape of the week
10:00 Morning Kai (food) time, Tamariki will sing a Karakia before kai.
10:20 – 11:00 Montessori demonstration by Kaiako and Tamariki followed by independent Montessori learning and school readiness experiences.
11:00 – 11:30 Exploration learning experiences based on the Tamariki interests and individual learning plan
11:30 – 12:00 Outdoor play and exploration
12:00 – 12:30 Kai time (lunch)
12:30 Rest time for our younger Tamariki
12:30 -1:30 Outdoor play and exploration
1:30 – 2:00 Music and movement, stories, group learning and focused learning experiences
2:00 Afternoon Tea (Tamariki sing Karakia before kai)
2:30 – 3:00 Montessori work cycle (planned learning experiences)
3:00 – 4:00 Outdoor play
4:00 Late snack
4:15 – 5:30 Pack up all help and work together to get inside and outside packed up. (Quiet activities, stories, puzzles, drawing, construction, table top activities. Throughout the afternoon Tamariki are picked up).
