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Our BestStart Montessori Otumoetai Philosophy
Together with our whanau at BestStart Montessori Otumoetai we aim to cultivate skills and habits of mind for children as they grow into competent individuals knowing to co-operate, collaborate and contribute to society.
Guided by the principles of Te Whaariki, Montessori philosophy and current research we help to develop skills and provide opportunities for children to be independent, resilient and curious learners.
We believe in helping a child to do things for themselves in his own pace and space, to acquire knowledge and experience the world through his own efforts to reach their full potential. Our goal is to answer the child’s desire to “help me to help myself”.
Our aim is to build up a child’ capacity to self-control, self-regulate and to develop the ability to become resilient. Through grace and courtesy lessons, role modelling socially acceptable behaviours, providing opportunities for uninterrupted social interactions and space to work out, we help develop in children the skills and confidence to believe in themselves.
By honouring and respecting Te Tiriti o Waitangi and celebrating the multicultural make up we have in the centre we help our children learn to be acceptable and appreciative of differences.
Together with the children, we take part in their meaningful and relevant learning experiences, to arouse curiosity, prompt inquiries, to ignite their motivation to seek out working theories. We capture children’s current sensitive periods and respond to these in a timely manner to support and extend their knowledge and curiosity.