Our philosophy
Whanaungatanga
Whanaungatanga is a foundational Māori concept that describes the bond created through shared experiences and working together, giving people a deep sense of belonging, collective support, and mutual responsibility.
Whanaungatanga is our grounding value. Interconnected and responsive relationships are a priority at Feathers.
We celebrate and respect diverse cultural identities along with practices.
Our kaiako will always nurture the cultural identity of all our tamariki through Te Whāriki Early Childhood Curriculum.
Ako
Ako is a Māori concept that means both to teach and to learn. Ako is a big part of our philosophy at Feathers. We value the importance of learning from the different backgrounds of others.
This enables our tamariki to grow to be independent, inclusive, free-spirited individuals who are equipped to work with others to learn.
Mana ao tūroa
Mana ao tūroa is a Māori concept that translates to "exploration". In a literal sense, it refers to the mana of the environment or the external world.
We absolutely love seeing our tamariki learn and connect with nature. From nature walks, exploring outdoors and growing our own plants, we provide wonderful opportunities for tamariki to build a sense of wonder amongst their natural surroundings.
We proudly teach the importance of caring for our environment.
Reggio Emilia &
Dr Emmi Pikler
Our pedagogy is guided by the teachings of Reggio Emilia and Dr Emmi Pikler, where importance is placed on the environment as being a third teacher.
This includes aesthetic indoor and outdoor play areas, provocations and also ensuring a safe, unhurried, stimulating and peaceful environment that is respectful and empowering for each child.