Phoenix Preschool has a philosophy based on relationships where we aim for everyone to feel like they are a part of our whānau. Our te rūma Kiwi (Under 3's) allows for younger children to have time for peaceful, uninterrupted play where they are free to move and explore safely at pace that suits them. We value opportunities for siblings to spend time together on session, and we also like to enable the opportunity for older children to visit te rūma Kiwi to encourage ako (learning from each other) and taukana teina (where the older child teaches the younger child). From time to time, te rūma Kiwi children are also able to venture out into te rūma Pūkeko to join in with shared experiences and special occasions. This helps to support transitions within the centre as the children develop a familiarity with each other and the teachers, no matter which room they are in.
We aim to make the transition from te rūma Kiwi to te rūma Pūkeko as smooth as possible for you and your child. Your child's old teacher and new teacher will support the pathway through by joining with your child as often as possible in both rooms. This will help your child to develop a sense of belonging in the new environment and give you both confidence with the new routines and teaching team.
As your child nears the beginning of their pathway to te rūma Pūkeko we begin to implement our transitioning techniques which include:
Regular and increasing visits to te rūma Pūkeko
Opportunities to participate in te rūma Pūkeko daily rituals and routines, such as kai time and group times
Encouraging independent self-care skills such as handwashing, face washing and caring for belongings
Your child's teachers will keep you well-informed of the transition and how your child is going so that you can feel confident and supported along with your child. They will also give you a full tour of the new environment, where things are kept and explain the new routine
We always work at the child's pace and if they show us that they are not yet ready for the transition - we will work with you on this. All children who have recently transitioned are always welcome back in te rūma Kiwi whenever they desire, we are always here with open arms!