Nikki

My Philosophy

I provide children with a relaxed and calm environment, one in which they feel safe to explore and take control of their own learning. I believe that each child is an individual, I value and develop each child's strengths, interests, skills, abilities and knowledge to extend their learning. 

I observe to understand the play that is occurring, to gain insight into the development, knowledge and skill levels of each individual child. I then plan and extend learning. I communicate with families and seek feedback for further insight into learning and development.

My Environment

I live in Papamoa, in the Bay of Plenty. We love the lifestyle here, being so close to the beach is just magical.

My home is open and welcoming. It is always set up both inside and out, with a wide variety of resources that are thoughtfully planned out for the interests of the children in care and set out in a way that is inviting for them to select and engage with. Tamariki have easy access to the outside where they can explore, climb, swing, jump and engage in role-play within the playhouse and mud kitchen. I also like to encourage seasonal gardening activities for them to learn about the care of the natural world.

We have a designated area inside for creative activities and messy play including playdough, painting, art and craft & sensory trays. I love to bake, so I like to engage the children with baking and cooking activities whenever we can, as these are such lifelong skills and they get such a feeling of empowerment from the process.

My Training

I hold the National Certificate in Early Childhood (Level 3) and I hold a current first-aid certificate. I have completed completing a variety of professional development elements to gain further insight and knowledge of the early childhood learning.