Early learning at Educare
When people hear the word “curriculum”, they often picture classrooms, worksheets, and formal lessons. In early childhood education, it looks quite different.
At Educare, our curriculum is the framework that guides how we support your child’s learning, growth, and development every day. While our days are filled with play, exploration, and meaningful connections, every experience is carefully planned with purpose.
Research shows that young children learn best through play. Through hands-on experiences, discovery, and relationships, children build the skills, confidence, and understanding that form the foundation for future learning.
Learning through play, with purpose
To a child, play is fun. To an experienced kaiako, play is also one of the most powerful ways our tamariki learn.
Whether they’re creating in the art area, building with blocks, exploring nature, solving problems with friends, or sharing stories, children are developing essential skills across all areas of learning.
Behind these moments, our kaiako are intentionally observing, planning, and extending learning opportunities that support language development, early literacy and numeracy, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and social and emotional wellbeing.
Learning through play doesn’t mean learning is left to chance. It means children learn in ways that are engaging, meaningful, and appropriate for their stage of development.
Building strong foundations for lifelong learning
Building strong foundations for lifelong learning
Our Educare curriculum is grounded in Te Whāriki, Aotearoa, New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum. Through nurturing relationships, play-based learning, and intentional teaching, we support each child’s unique strengths, interests, and development.
As children explore and grow, our kaiako weave literacy, numeracy, creativity, problem-solving, and social learning into everyday experiences, helping build the confidence, resilience, and curiosity that supports lifelong learning.
Our curriculum
Our days are filled with fun, exploration, and discovery, but every experience has a purpose. Behind the play, our kaiako use research-informed teaching practices to support your child’s learning, development, and wellbeing.
Te Whāriki
At Educare, learning is guided by Te Whāriki, Aotearoa New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum. Te Whāriki recognises that every child is unique and capable, and that learning happens best through responsive relationships, meaningful experiences, and play. Te Whāriki recognises the immense potential in every child and the vital role of quality early education in shaping their future learning and wellbeing.
Pikler/ RIE
Guided by the principles of Pikler and RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers), we foster calm, respectful, and trusting relationships as soon as your child joins our family. Pikler encourages unhurried care and views babies as capable, active participants. RIE builds on this by creating peaceful spaces where tamariki are free to move, explore, and be heard.
Individual learning journeys
Every child is unique, and so is their learning journey. Our kaiako take time to observe tamariki in play, discover what sparks their curiosity, and work alongside whānau to understand their strengths, interests and aspirations. Through ongoing reflection and intentional planning, we create learning experiences that build on what matters most to each child, helping them grow with confidence, purpose, and a strong sense of belonging.
Learning skills for life
With our older tamariki, we draw on the work of Helm and Katz (2001), who champion learning through longer-term projects inspired by children’s interests. Through meaningful, hands-on exploration, children develop important learning dispositions, such as curiosity, perseverance, confidence and problem-solving. These qualities help them embrace new experiences, overcome challenges, and become confident lifelong learners.
Learning through schemas
Every child learns differently. Through a process called schema identification, we recognise the play patterns and interests that capture your child’s attention and support how they learn best. Based on the research of Athey (1990), and expanded on by New Zealanders Meade and Cubey (1996), this understanding helps our kaiako create learning experiences that build on your child’s strengths, nurture their curiosity, and extend their learning through play.
FREE RESOURCE
Talking With Your Baby
Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but our ECE centre comes pretty close! Download our free Talking With Your Baby guide for practical tips to support your baby’s early language development.
Thinking about enrolling?
Choosing an early learning centre is a big decision, we’re honoured you’re considering Educare. We know how important it is to find a place where your child feels safe, supported, and truly at home.
Come and explore our spaces, meet our caring team, and see first-hand what makes Educare special.
Whether you would like to check availability, book a centre tour or simply want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you.
