Our Rooms

Active Explorers Mana has four separate rooms, enabling us to deliver age-appropriate experiences for tamariki at each different stage of their development.

In our Ngaio and Taupata rooms we place a strong focus on free and natural movement. We believe that children should not be put in positions that they are unable to get into or out of themselves, so we do not use high chairs.  We also believe children will develop at their own pace. We provide open ended resources which allow children to explore with infinite possibilities. Children need to learn to experience possibilities for themselves.

Programmes in our Mānuka and Kānuka rooms place strong emphasis on the development of responsive, respectful, working partnerships between tamariki, kaiako, parents/whanau and members of the wider community.  Opportunities are created for children to investigate and explore, with plenty of stimulating resources and experiences that support and extend learning. Through communication, exploration and creative expression children share their learning and development, which is documented and celebrated on wall displays, slide shows, video footage and in children’s profiles.

Tamariki are usually in this space until approx 12 Months (dependent on child moving from being immobile-mobile

Tamariki transition to this space when they are mobile up until 2 years

Tamariki join this room at approx age 2 and move into Kanuka from approx. age 3

Tamariki can join this room from age 3 until leaving for school