The PORSE Programme supports and encourages the development of respectful and responsive attitudes of nurturing care and education for your child. Your child's programme will reflect the values and expectations of your family and support his/her individual learning style, care needs, routines and play.

PORSE organised activies

PORSE organises a variety of activities for children and their educators which promote friendship and fun, role modelling, observation, reflection of practices, confidence and sharing of information, resources and knowledge. Parents are welcome to attend all organised activities. Find out from your area office the organised activities planned in the coming months.

These activities are locally organised and include:

Weekly PlaySchools

Provide children with an early childhood play environment in which they can explore, learn, and develop through a wide range of play activities. PlaySchool provides a safe environment for children to practise social interactions, self-regulation and receive one to one support with meaningful and challenging activity based learning.

Nature PlaySchools

Offer a valuable opportunity to bring our children closer to nature and allow them to visit, explore and experience a natural environment. Unstructured outdoor play improves children's physical and emotional development, mental wellbeing, social skills and opportunities for creative learning.

PODs

Bring small groups of educators and children with similar interests together to socialise, discuss and learn in a home or community setting. This could be children of similar age/interests (transport, creativity), or educators with similar interests such as study purposes, social interaction.

Music

Through music children are encouraged to develop skills such as social interaction, speech and language, movement, emotional expression and relationship building. Music groups have a positive effect on children's confidence and support development in the areas of co-ordination, fine motor skills, listening, ability to follow instructions, creative thinking and life skills such as counting, colours, manners.

Community outings

Organised frequently to stimulate meaningful guided experiences in a carefully chosen safe environment. From farm visits and train rides to gym sessions and fire station visits, outings are a lot of fun and provide important learning opportunities.

Whether you choose a Nanny or Home Educator, you can have peace of mind that your child and educator through the PORSE Programme will experience a safe and stimulating environment that will support their early learning and development.

In-Home Childcare - benefits for children

A warm, nurturing, respectful educator that you have personally chosen

A healthy and safe environment that is regularly checked

A calm home environment that allows for quiet play and relaxed activities

Social interaction in a group size that does not exceed four children as recommended by international research on the benefits of early childhood

Participation in all the familiar, everyday routines that your child/ren would do if you were at home

Planned activities to enhance the child’s interests and strengths

Learning and development according to Te Whaariki principles and the MoE guidelines.

PORSE attitude on relationships with children

Educators' and Programme Tutors' relationships with children should be characterised by:

Positive interactions at all times that promote a physically, emotionally and psychologically safe environment

Developmentally, culturally and individually appropriate experiences with important human values reinforced

Sensitive and informed guidance, interventions and support

Responsive to children's interests and passions

Giving children TIME to explore and complete activities

Planning play experiences that are challenging and meaningful

Treating children with respect, dignity with individuality and uniqueness valued

Encouraging children to participate in all play areas and activities

Providing boundaries, routines that are clear and consistent, by negotiating with children, and giving children 'choice'.

Asking questions from the child's view, 'is this place just and fair for me?'

Offering one to one support with challenging and complex play activity and learning

Non-discriminatory and appropriate behaviour

Assuring children appropriate privacy and confidentiality and advocating on behalf of children

Valuing of diversity

Encouraging children's acceptance of difference

Empathetic support of children's transition from home to a group setting.