Information booklet Farm Friends Early Childhood Education and Care 51 Coulter Rd, Swanson 09 832 3600 www.farmfriends.co.nz
Introduction to Farm Friends Early Childhood Centre Farm Friends is located on a 10-acre lifestyle block in Swanson, only 5 minutes from Henderson. We have been open since 1997 and cater for a mixed age group of thirty children, 2-5years old. Our setting is very unique, allowing for the appreciation and care of our natural forest environment, hand rearing and hands on care of our pet animals with the opportunity to learn about life cycles, active outdoor play and to experience the spacious country grounds. We strive in supporting our families and building a sense of community, where we provide a rich, social, family-like setting with a range of flexible sessions, offering to cater for the varied needs and aspirations of families today e.g. Am session (8am1pm), Pm session (1pm-5.30pm/5pm on Friday), School hours session (9am-3pm) and Full-days (8am-5pm Friday, 5.30pm Mon-Thu) and 20 hours ECE for 3 & 4 year olds. Children are well supported in self-initiated, planned and spontaneous activities by providing a high teacher/child ratio of 1:7. Teachers work alongside children as positive role models and facilitators of learning, actively extending and scaffolding their play experiences. Children s language is enhanced through quality, interactive and responsive communication, in a relaxed and nurturing atmosphere. Farm Friends maintains a small, stable staffing team, committed to ongoing professional development and building long lasting relationships with our Centre families based on trust, respect, open communication, consultation and collaboration. Outdoor discovery/forest/natural environment: At Farm Friends, reconnecting children to nature is an important aspect of our philosophy and centre aspiration. We are lucky enough to be located on a 10-acre lifestyle block, with our farm environment, animals and centre forest. Our forest is a natural playscape and an affordance of nature, where children are free to explore, examine and reconnect to the wonders and experiences our natural backyard offers. Our forest offers endless learning opportunities: Physically gross motor development, risky play, safety for oneself and peers, tactile experiences. Socially Imaginative/fantasy play, interactions with peers and teachers, assisting one another. Intellectually extending cognitive development, problems solving skills, scientific development, small and large group discussions. Emotionally Finding a place, a connection with nature, a place where we all belong.
Centre Owner/Director My name is Glynis Hibbott, I have been involved in many aspects of Early Childhood Education for the last 25 years, from Kindergarten teaching to lecturing and leadership in initial teacher education. I have a certificate in Early Childhood Development (developmental psychology), a Degree in Education specialising in Teaching ECE, a Post Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, a Post Graduate Diploma in Education specializing in ECE. My passion throughout all these experiences is a focus and advocacy for the rights of all children and their Whanau, to experience the best environment, within an early childhood education centre, for their optimal learning and development. I believe that children learn best when they experience an environment that allows them to grow, physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually by providing a space where they are free to explore through play and real life experiences, including animal husbandry, in a variety of natural environments. Where these children are empowered to take responsibility for their own and their peers learning, becoming a community of learners who share and care for each other. Head Teacher: Kia Ora, my name is Michelle Collins. I started here in 2002 with a Nanny Certificate and continued my educational journey as an early childhood teacher gaining a Diploma and Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). I continued with further studies, completing my Post Graduate Diploma in Education in 2012. I am extremely passionate about young children reconnecting with nature and risky play. My childhood experiences have strongly influenced my personal teaching pedagogy where, I firmly believe young children should have the same exciting learning opportunities. I love being a part of the Farm Friends family and have had the pleasure in farewelling many children, watching Farm Friends grow, change and witnessing the uniqueness each person brings to our little community. Teacher: Hello my name is Micaela Arnold and I have been working here since 2005. My first interest in ECE was at high school taking child development and gaining a Plunket Tots and Toddlers certificate. I became a part time Nanny/carer with a family for two years and decided to begin studying towards my Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). I was raised in the Waitakere Village area, enjoying the rural life style. This is why I fell in love with Farm Friends, as it is more like coming home to my family. I know myself and others are appreciated and valued. I have grown up with Farm Friends learning to love, appreciate, learn/teach in nature and wouldn t have it any other way.
Teacher: Hello my name is Emily. My first experiences of working alongside children, was when my Mum was a supervisor at an early childhood centre. I started working with an after school care programme, before starting here in 2010. I am the mother to three children who have all attended Farm Friends. I have now completed my final year of study through New Zealand Tertiary College. I have gained my B.Ed. ECE and provisional registration. My passions are the importance of family, horse riding and music. I look forward to working alongside you and your children. Teacher I am a creative and innovative teacher with nearly ten years experience working with children aged 2-8 years. I believe in a holistic, experiencebased approach to teaching and learning which encourages pupils to become confident, interested learners who are creative thinkers and problem solvers. I strive to foster a learning environment where children and their families feel valued and respected. My practice is influenced by a range of educational philosophies including the Reggio Emilia and Forest Schools approaches. I view myself as a facilitator to the learning process and value both child and teacher-led learning opportunities. I enjoy topic based, inquiry learning which is guided by pupil interest. This is most successful when combined with collaborative planning, ongoing formative assessment and reflection. I take great pride in crafting meaningful learning stories and enjoy sharing the process with the children and adults I work with.i am passionate about getting children out into natural, wild spaces. My love for the natural world is reflected in my practice through my interest in outdoor learning, sustainability and the use of natural resources and loose parts. I enjoy using story telling, role-play and drama to promote oral literacy and encourage children to make sense of the world around them. Art and ICT are integral to my practice as tools for both learning and expression. Teacher Kia ora, my name is Annabelle. I am currently finishing my final year of study and am working towards my Bachelor of Education (ECE) I will graduate November 2014. I have lived in West Auckland for most of my life and am proud to call it home. I am an Aunty to four beautiful nieces and thoroughly enjoy spoiling them all! I love spending time with children and have had different vocations with them, including teaching dance classes and being a professional fairy. I look forward to being apart of the Farm Friends family and getting to know you and your children. Centre cook and Teacher Aid: Hi my name is Fiona Hickling. I have been here at farm Friends since 1998. My interest is baking and cooking, providing healthy, nutritious home cooked meals. One aspect I enjoy about being the Centre cook, is the interactions and relationships I can form with the children, parents and my colleagues. Cooking/baking provides children with a sense of well-being, belonging and develops a variety of fine motor, communication and gardening skills, in which children can be involved in. My job relates to happenings at home, linking the home and centre life together, with familiar smells and similar products. I believe we grow as we cook and share with another.
Sickness & illness: This is to prevent the spread of infection to other children and staff. If we detect illness during the course of the day, we will ask you to come and collect your child from the centre. During that time your child will will be removed from the centre environment into the office, until a parent/caregiver has arrived. With any of the above illnesses, especially vomiting and diarrhoea, children are to remain at home until 24 hours after the last episode. There is a Health Chart of Infectious Diseases is displayed in the foyer for parents to refer too, displaying information on the common viruses. This can also be accessed via the Ministry of Health website. We are aware that parents/caregivers are working and busy, however, we do request that the centre is notified of any absences or illnesses You still pay for this day, however, if an informed absence has been documented, a make-up maybe offered at a later date. Accidents Minor/major: If your child suffers a minor accident, such as; a grazed knee or a bump to the body in someway or form, teachers will treat the injury. An accident report ( accident note ) will be written by the teacher who has noticed and treated the minor accident. In the event of a major accident, teachers will ensure the child s safety and well-being are catered for. Depending on the severity of the accident an ambulance will be called, otherwise staff will contact parents and take the child to the centre doctor or closest accident and emergency. Meals: The centre provides nutritious meals throughout the sessions morning tea, cooked lunch, and afternoon tea. Records are kept of daily meals on the whiteboard in the foyer area for parents to read. If you are aware of any allergies your child may have, please inform us of these in the provided space on the enrolment form. Our meals have specifically organized to suit the ages of our children. We acknowledge children can be fussy or hard to feed, so popular, yet nutritious meals are provided. Following the children s cooked lunch a platter of seasonal fruit or vegetables will be provided. Please feel free to ask or question our meal plan. Sleep: We understand and recognize that each child is unique, arriving at Farm Friends with his/her own sleeping routine. Therefore teachers will endeavor to follow individual children s rhythms and routines in a relaxed and familiar environment. All children who require a sleep/rest while at Farm Friends will be allocated their own sleeping space, bed and bed linen. Our sleep room is located upstairs, where children can avoid distractions and interuptions from their non-sleeping peers. Linen is washed at the end of every week.
Centre policies: Our centre policies are located and available for your reading. The policies are located on the signing in desk, next to the daily signing in chart. Please feel free to read these and make a contribution if you feel there is a need. What to bring: Bag: Please provide a named bag with you each session with several changes of (named) clothes, ample of disposable nappies and wipes if required, and any special comforter your child may have that will assist with the settling or sleep time procedures. A named drink bottle: Children are requested to provide their own drinks in a named drink, easily identified drink bottle from home that they can easily access to ensure they do not become thirsty and dehydrated during the day. We prefer to encourage children to have water to quench their thirst. There is a water cooler in the main play activity room for refilling of drink bottle and cups. Weather appropriate gear: Summer We ask that each child brings a named sunhat that can either be left in your child s bag or in our hat bucket. Winter We ask that each child brings a named hat, raincoat and a pair of gumboots. We do venture out into the forest or around the farm during the winter time therefore these items are essential! We believe - There s no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing! Fees Schedule: We provide a variety of sessions, providing flexibility and catering for the varied needs and aspirations of our families today. Our sessions range from: 8am-2pm, 8.30am2.30pm, 9am-3pm 9.30am-3.30pm, 10am- 4pm, and full day 8am 5.30pm/5.00pm (Fri) * these are sessions available to receive 20 hours ECE *School session: 8am-2pm, 8.30am-2.30pm, 9am-3pm 9.30am-3.30pm, 10am- 4pm $36.00 per session for children under 3 years. $72.00-2 x sessions under 3 year olds. $108.00 3 x session under 3 year olds. $139.00 4 x session under 3 year olds. $170.00 5 x session under 3 year olds. ******************************************* $16.00-1 x session (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year olds. $32.00 2 x sessions (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year olds. $48.00 3 x sessions (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year olds. $82.00 4 x sessions (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year olds. $115.00 5 x sessions (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year olds.
Day session: 8am-5/5.30pm $45.00 per session for children under 3 years. $90.00 2 x sessions for under 3 year olds. $135.00 3 x sessions for under 3 year olds. $175.00 4 x sessions for under 3 year olds. $215.00 5 x sessions for under 3 year olds. Day session: 8am-5/5.30pm $21.00 1 x session (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year olds. $42.00 2 x sessions (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year olds. $63.00 3 x sessions (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year olds. $103.00 4 x sessions (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year olds. $143.00 5 x sessions (20 hours funded) for 3 and 4 year old Planning and documentation: At Farm Friends we value our children s contributions to the centre planning. Our children are encouraged to contribute their strengths, interests and needs to organize how their week will be. Teachers provide the gathered activities according to the children s plan. This is signed off on the plan as completed and documented on our documentation boards or children s portfolios. We use an online system called: Educa with this you can see what your child is up to, all online. Educa gives you a unique insight into your child's learning, by combining the advantages of the internet and a portfolio. Parents can access the learning of their children from anywhere with the native iphone and Android apps. With the ease to view photos, watch videos and read learning stories of their children, parents can keep up to date with their children's learning and getting more involved in children's education. With Educa you can talk to your child's teacher online, make comments on learning stories and talk about future goals for your child. Educa makes it convenient for you to keep up a high level of communication. All newsletters, and notices about field trips and picture day are stored online. You no longer have to search through piles of paper or ask for a new copy, you simply go to Educa and have all the information right in front of you. Saying goodbye: Before your child is due to start at Farm Friends, we strongly recommend at least 2-4 pre-visitis. These visits will ensure familiarity with our environment, routines, teachers and their names. We encourage short visits of up to an hours duration and depending on the child, parents are welcomed to leave for that set period of time. This provides the child with the understanding that the parent/caregiver will be back later to collect him or her. During this time you will receive a Getting to know form. This form provides the centre teachers with detailed information on your child. Getting to know informs the centre teacher s on your child s strengths, interests, needs and aids to the smooth transition for your child.