Early Childhood Education
The Southern REAP Early Childhood team provides ongoing support for Early Childhood Education throughout our rural communities of Southland, Fiordland and Whakatipu. Learning through play reflects our philosophy and practice as we deliver practical hands-on centre and community-based sessions to various Early Childhood services across the sector.
The Early Childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, underpins all the mahi we do to ensure quality of delivery.
Learning Through Movement and Play
Mana aotūroa/exploration – The child learns through active exploration of the environment.
We share a passion for Movement for Learning (based on PMP – Perceptual Motor Programme) and using loose parts and heuristic play to create sensory, rich, respectful play spaces. Our community model is delivered in remote pockets across our region.
Our Mini Movers programme uses a variety of movement-based physical experiences to build gross and fine motor abilities, hand-eye coordination, concentration, language and many other skills that are important for a child’s development.
Professional Learning and Development
Kaiako are the key resource in any ECE service. Their primary responsibility is to facilitate children’s learning and development through thoughtful and intentional pedagogy. We meet the needs and interests of our ECE sector by planning and facilitating workshops, conferences, and area cluster groups and meetings.
Whānau Support
SPACE - Southern REAP is a Parenting Place SPACE partner. The SPACE parenting programme provides a safe and relaxing facilitated environment for whānau and their babies to come together to explore parenting and children’s development. Weekly sessions are hosted at The Nest in Winton.
Pōkatu Whānau meets weekly at The Nest. These sessions offer a welcoming and relaxed play-based learning environment for whānau and their preschool tamariki to experience tikanga and basic Te Reo Māori within a playgroup setting.
Mana Atua / Wellbeing – The health and the wellbeing of the child are protected and nurtured. We offer whānau sessions (Nurture our Tamariki) in conjunction with the Brainwave Trust focusing on the first thousand days and the long-lasting developmental foundations that are laid during this critical period.
We also provide education and care for tamariki of parents attending NCEA classes.
Enquiries
Enquiries can be sent to Kate McRae, our Schools and Early Childhood Manager - kate@reap.co.nz
or Maree Day, our Central/Western/Whakatipu ECE Coordinator - maree@reap.co.nz
or Naomi Cooper, our Eastern/Northern/Whakatipu ECE Coordinator - naomi@reap.co.nz
