Daily childcare and learning programme

Below is the program and routines of a typical day at St Mary’s ECEC. Individual and group planning guide activities and experiences the children experience throughout each day. Outings into the community complement the program. All teachers and staff undergo ongoing professional development so their own knowledge is always current and takes into account any new issues, trends and research in the field of early childhood education and care.

7:30 – 10am

Arrival, settling and Free play

This centre is set up in different curriculum areas, covering a large variety of activities and experiences. Curriculum areas include: art, drama, construction, music, cooking, manipulative, literacy, numeracy, math’s, science, and technology. We have easy access to both the indoor and outdoor environments. Children choose where and how they interact with the environment. Teachers work alongside children guiding them and extending their knowledge by scaffolding their learning. Our curriculum is based on Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood education curriculum.

10 – 10:20 Morning Tea

A healthy and nutritious menu is displayed at front door.

10:20 – 12 noon Free play

See above

12 noon – 12:30 Lunch

A healthy and nutritious menu is displayed at front door.

12:30 – 1 pm

Children rest or sleep

Children will be encouraged to rest or sleep during this time. It is important for young children to take time out of their busy day to rest their bodies and minds for healthy learning to occur. Time allocated depends on children’s individual needs and the routine their parents set for them (babies sleep as required)

1 pm

Planned group activities,
(some children may still be asleep)

Children are assigned to groups according to their ages or levels of development. A structured program that has planned by their profile teachers. Other children are free to play and interact where ever they want to.

2 pm 

Afternoon Tea

A healthy and nutritious menu is displayed at front door.

2:30 pm 

Free Play

4:30 – 5:30

Quiet activities while children prepare to depart

5:30

Centre closes