We view the children as competent and capable learners, both planned and spontaneous experiences come from the interests of children which may be happening in a moment or over longer periods of time such as using a project approach to map out and document their learning experiences. We are responsive to children and will set up and plan the environment and experiences in ways which reflect our observations of children of all ages within our programs, both individuals and groups.
Free Play
We place high value on children exploring the natural environment and the amazing opportunities for learning which free play affords. Free play provides children with time and space to develop personally in the areas of confidence and competencies, agility and balance and identifying of local flora and fauna.
Sustainability
Sustainability is one of our core values which is reflected in our use of natural resources, how we take care of the local natural environments where learning takes place. We promote children to be kaitiaki of the natural environments we use for our sessions, programs and events; communicating with groups and individuals on strategies for being actively engaged with sustainable practices.
Relationships and Tuakana-teina
We believe that children learn best when they are sharing skills, knowledge and competencies when they are connecting within a range of age groups; we encourage and promote children to work and play with and alongside each other. There are opportunities for children to explore and play with children they may or may have not met previously and form new relationships or continue to develop them with people they already know.
Place-based learning and education
At Fantail Nature School we use a range of locations for our sessions, events and programs, each place has a range of both native and non-native plants and species, in some areas we are able to engage in safe sighting, lighting and extinguishing campfires and other locations where we may or may not have access to streams and rivers. Each place is unique and we can identify spaces for play, what are the local flora and fauna; and how we can explore each one for learning opportunities.