• Playground at Campbells Bay ELC.

Environment meets education at Campbells Bay Early Learning Centre

Campbells Bay Early Learning Centre has firmly established itself in the heart of The Bays as a modern, environmentally conscious pre-school and one to be admired from the street.

Winning the ‘Best in Category’ by Hawkins Heritage and Adaptive Reuses Property Award earlier this year was wonderful recognition for the team who took care to architecturally design around the 1950s-built church, a Heritage Building, thus respecting its history and place in the community.

The learning centre educators are proud of their core values:

  • Respect – honouring each child’s individuality.
  • Play – promoting critical inquiry, wonderment and creativity.
  • Professionalism – providing teachers, environment and standards that demonstrate excellence.
  • Inclusiveness – accepting the diversity off all members of our community.
  • Partnership – recognising the importance of family and their unique knowledge of their child.

To achieve this, all teachers are Early Childhood Educators and the centre, licenced for 120 children, incorporates the RIE (Resources for Infant Educators) philosophy developed by Magda Gerber in the 1970s. RIE is all about treating the child with respect from birth. Allowing them time, space and trust to learn at their own level and stages. Being aware of baby’s perspective, slowing ourselves down and being present.

For the older children, the Reggio Emilia method is used to encourage learning through play and language. Small child to teacher ratios encourage extended thinking and problem solving and the array of toy loose parts allow these skills to develop and flourish. In keeping with environmental responsibility, toys and furniture are mostly wooden. And meals, prepared on-site by their own chef, are nutritious, adding to robust brain development.

Rooms are spacious, full of light and uncluttered, opening out to the garden and outdoor play areas, while the sleeping areas are carpeted and quiet. Outside, a grand old pohutukawa provides extra shade over native plantings, playground equipment includes a pirate ship with slide, and there is a stream that is filled by the children using a self-generated hand pump.

Regular visits to the beach exploring the environment are both fun and educational for the older children along with the four year olds enjoying weekly excursions to the local retirement home – a truly special time for all.

If you are looking for child care combined with education in what feels like an extension of your own home, then book a time to view the centre, meet the teachers and see what lies beyond the old church doors.

Campbells Bay Early Learning Centre
220 Beach Road, Campbells Bay
Hours: 7.30am – 6.00pm
P: 09 479 9090 E:
alex@campbellsbay-elc.co.nz
www.campbellsbay-elc.co.nz
Facebook: @campbellsbayearlylearningcentre
Insta: campbellsbay_elc


Issue 102 September 2019