Our respectful care giving curriculum is inspired by the work of Emmi Pikler, Magda Gerber, Penny Brownlee, Kimberly Crisp and Toni & Robyn Christie. It means that we see the child as an equal member of society and that they have a valued opinion about what is happening in their life.

This allows children to discover as much as possible on their own, with the comfort of a familiar adult nearby. We allow children to move freely (inside and outside) and therefore do not use equipment like highchairs. This enables them to learn about challenging themselves and understanding their own body’s capabilities. 

We believe that care giving is an important part of the curriculum and we make time for special attention during these routines such as meals, nappy changing and dressing. 

We have a whānau key teacher system in place. This means that one teacher (supported by a secondary teacher) will be responsible for a small group of mixedage children. Your child’s key teacher will support you and your child as you start the settling process, which will take 2-3 weeks.

Once your child has formed a secure attachment to their key teacher, they are then able to explore and form secure attachments with other teachers. This environment of a small group of consistent teachers is essential for a child’s sense of belonging and establishes continuity of care within the team. 

As part of our culture of respect we remove our shoes before entering Kāpiti Children's Centre. This shows respect for our infants and toddlers who play on the floor, it acknowledges our bicultural curriculum by demonstrating a culturally appropriate practice and it also helps to reduce noise which creates a more peaceful place for all of us.