LATEST STORIES
Supporting our tamariki as school gets closer
Today we went for a walk with some of our older tamariki to our local Stratford Primary School. This is a great initiative that we have been doing at BestStart for quite some time. It introduces and familiarises children to the next stage of their learning journey of where to next.
On this visit, we explored the outdoors. As we entered the gates, we made our way to the back of the school. We noticed Harold the Giraffe was visiting in his trailer. We talked about how he travels all around and will one day visit the children at their own schools. We walked on and noticed a small garden. The tamariki spotted colourful bird houses on a post.
Further down we spotted some honey bees. This was fascinating for the children as they peered through the fence and viewing window for quite some time. Next we noticed the heihei (chicken) hotel. The feathered flock of chickens looked out to our curious tamariki looking in. They could see that scraps were a source of their food. We also looked for eggs as some children made a connection towards the chicken and the egg! With the rain we had through the night, who could resist jumping in puddles. Further around the back, there were many bug hotels for the tamariki to search for living creatures.
As the school is undergoing some construction, there were heavy vehicles parked up. This initiated some great thoughts and conversations on what they might be doing there. Lastly, on our way out, a play in the giant sandpit and a play on the playground. Nga tamariki really enjoyed their trip and felt comfortable being in a huge environment. Taking this time venture out and enquiring about new things, helps support tamariki and gives them confidence as they transition to their chosen school.