Our Community-Based Preschool offers your tamaiti/child a safe, happy, nurturing, inclusive and exploration-rich learning environment that engages and challenges nga tamariki/children’s individual interests, strengths and dispositions.  Strong collaborative relationships between whānau/family, kaiako/teacher and tamariki/children are at the heart of our practice.

Whānau are respected as the first and most important teachers of their tamariki/children.  Teachers/nga kaiako value prior knowledge, embrace all cultures, actively make connections between home and Preschool, which support open and reciprocal relationships. 

Our community embraces and upholds the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and this is reflected through our culturally responsive environment and curriculum. Protecting  and embracing  the unique place of Māori as Tangata Whenua.  The foundation of our programme is based on the New Zealand early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki.  Embedded in our practice are quality partnerships between tamariki/children, whānau/family, teachers/nga kaiako, and the wider learning community, iwi and hapu. This partnership is woven together to create a local curriculum with learning priorities that meet the individual needs ensuring participation of each tamaiti and their whānau.

Teachers/nga kaiako are committed to growing confident, successful, culturally intelligent and unique individuals by guiding children/tamariki to expand their thinking, learning and to develop an intrinsic self-belief.  

Tamariki/children are encouraged to be self-learners, with an appreciation and respect for themselves, the environment and others. 

Kaiako are guided by the interests of tamariki and provide a range of experiences, opportunities and episodes of uninterrupted play that enhance and extend tamariki’s learning holistically, individually and in collaborative groups. We value and treasure reciprocal learning, take time to be present and listen to the funds of knowledge that each tamaiti/child brings, promoting the flow of learning between kaiako/teachers and nga akonga/learners.

 As a reflection of our status as a Community Based Preschool, the Huntsbury Preschool Board undertakes the vital role of ensuring effective and efficient Governance and Management systems are in place.  The Board is committed to employing trained, registered teachers and providing them with professional support, learning, opportunities and resources.