• Early Childhood Education
• Gladstone Park
• Parnell Early Childhood Ctr
  • Philosophy and Teachers
  • Day to Day
  • Infants and Toddlers
  • Transition to School
  • Enrolment
  • ERO Report
  • Testimonials

Philosophy and Teachers

Philosophy

As a team, we know that children become competent and confident learners when they believe in themselves. Our centres focus on:

• Embracing individuality and nurturing relationships
  Our childcare centre is committed to providing a nurturing and caring environment where children are respected and affirmed as individuals, where their culture is acknowledged and supported and where their family are included in the centre activities. Children are precious to us, we want them to form and experience many meaningful and rewarding relationships at the centre.
• Providing stimulating learning opportunities
  Our friendly teachers are focused on creating stimulating opportunities for children to expand their knowledge and reasoning skills, to develop their physical skills and to express themselves creatively so that they can gain confidence to discover the world they live in and reach their full potential.

Our programme is based on the New Zealand early childhood curriculum policy called
Te Whāriki (download - 500kb).

Teachers

Acting Team Leader Parnell Early Childhood Centre - Brigitte Kenworthy

Brigitte is a highly experienced, qualified teacher with recent experience at another of Parnell Trust's centres, Gladstone Park Early Childhood Centre.

"I have been teaching for 16 years and have experience in both New Zealand and UK early childhood settings. I believe that infants and toddlers are competent and capable and that they learn best when they have developed a strong sense of belonging to the centre. They know they belong when they can see visible and clear links between their home, the centre environment and when each child’s unique culture and disposition is welcomed, celebrated and promoted. Partnerships between educators, children and their families are vital. Together, parents and teachers support and guide children as they develop holistically.

I believe play is a meaningful and powerful way for children to learn. Children learn best when they are listened and responded to and when their strengths and interests are extended and challenged. Learning programmes for infants and toddlers are based on the individual child’s strengths and interests, are developmentally appropriate and are based on current theory and practice." - Brigitte Kenworthy