All parents want their precious child to start their school journey well prepared.

However, there is often confusion about what being ‘school ready’ actually looks like.

Essentially, school readiness means that children should be able to manage themselves and their belongings in the school environment. Ideally, a new entrant should be able to sit quietly on the mat, listen to stories, follow instructions from the teacher, raise a hand to ask a question, wash their hands, sit and eat their lunch, identify and pack belongings in their bag and carry it, put on shoes / jersey/ hat and so on.

Most new entrant teachers agree that lack of these skills hinder efforts to push on with the academic learning journey.

Self-management, together with a well-developed sense of curiosity and love of learning are vastly more important than being able to write a few words, count or know the colours.

Latest research into learning has found children’s brain development happens through play. Play provides the foundations that will set them up for the rest of their life. Self-initiated play is creative, it helps children imagine and innovate.

Kereru Kindy and Childcare’s learning curriculum supports child-initiated learning through play.

At Kereru Kindy our children are currently interested in learning about creepies and crawlies. We are all loving going outside and searching our natural environment to find different places where they can discover new insects and bugs.

We have found many things hiding in a variety of places, from centipedes, worms, ants, slaters to bees and spiders. It is wonderful to share the children’s delight as they find something new and exciting to them.

Through this experience they are learning about their world around them and how to care for and show empathy to other living creatures. We make sure we are always gentle and caring towards the animals and put them back safely where we found them (in their homes).

To extend this interest, we will be building our own bug hotel, so our Tamariki can continue to enjoy this experience for months to come.

One of the key principles of the early learning curriculum (Te Whaariki) is Empowerment, where teachers help to empower children to learn and grow alongside each other.

At Kereru Kindy we provide an environment where our Tamariki are encouraged to make choices of their own and to direct their own learning. This helps children to become Independent and confident.

We encourage them to think and act for themselves, which helps them to gain self-belief and to build their self-esteem. They are then able to discover and enjoy learning experiences in their own unique way.

Learning becomes more fun and meaningful, and helps to prepare children for going to school. It is very rewarding for teachers to watch children make discoveries on their own, and to share their excitement and sense of accomplishment with their friends and teachers.