Curriculum

Hill Street ECC is funded by the Ministry of Education to offer the national early childhood education curriculum Te Whāriki. The primary goal of this curriculum is that:

children grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit and secure in their sense of belonging in the knowledge they have made a valued contribution to society.

Te Whāriki allows children to learn through their play experiences, with the Hill Street  learning programme including:

• Science exploration
• Learning about and caring for the natural environment
• Art exploration and study
• Reading and story-telling through a variety of mediums
• Literacy opportunities
• Dramatic and imaginative play
• Music and movement
• Mathematics and numeracy through play
• Physical and outdoor play
• ICT technology
• Exploring the community around us
• Special events and cultural celebrations
• Bi-cultural focused learning

Evaluation of learning

At Hill Street we see teachers and families as partners in their child’s learning journey. We listen carefully to parents hopes and aspirations for their child’s learning; then work collaboratively to achieve this.

We assess children’s learning by observing and talking to parents about the knowledge, skills and dispositions children display. We then respond by providing meaningful and relevant activities to build on the learning we are seeing. We do not have structured times for literacy or numeracy development, but will weave these important skills through authentic activities that children have an interest in.

Individual portfolios

Teachers have regular non-contact time to work on children’s learning portfolios.  These are learning diaries that record the progression of your child’s learning; showing the play, interests, and friendships your child is engaged in.

Teachers share children’s learning through an online programme called Storypark. Whanau are invited to view the progress of their child’s learning through the sharing of learning diaries which document the growth and development of the knowledge, skills and dispositions children display. Whanau are invited to contribute and share their own perspectives and stories as well.