Tipu Room

Kia ora and welcome to the Tipu room!

We provide a space for toddlers in an intimate small group size. Their transition from the babies' room or home to the toddler room becomes a positive step in their learning journey.

Our Tipu teachers provide fun and stimulating learning experiences that ignite curiosity, imagination, and a love of learning through discovery within a safe and nurturing environment. Our ratios ensure a cozy place for toddlers to explore their unique nature.

We support their learning with a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and supportive of all children during this age of discovery and wonder.

We assign each child a buddy teacher in the Tipu room, whose focus is to work alongside your child as they learn new routines and assist them in feeling a sense of belonging in their new environment. The buddy teacher will also communicate with parents, develop a secure relationship, and ensure Tamariki feels welcome and supported.

Our space is filled with natural and recycled materials and open-ended resources to provoke a sense of wonder and curiosity. Everything is clean, organized, and efficient. We strive to create an inspiring and thought-provoking learning environment where children are empowered to use all their senses as a form of expression and exploration. The outdoor environment is large, allowing children to explore at their own pace, get dirty, climb, and create memories to share with their friends and families.

"My Learning Journey" (hard copy and Story Park) is a living document that highlights moments, celebrations, and your child's achievements, successes, and development during their time at Active Explorers St Lukes.

Their stories are linked with the Early Childhood Curriculum document Te Whāriki and are inspired by the principles and practices of Reggio Emilia and The Curiosity Approach. They reflect your child's interests and passions observed by teachers and are extended through curriculum planning and individual planning by the teaching team.

Contributions from home are encouraged and welcomed, creating connections between the home and the central environment.

We value parents as first teachers and will work alongside you to formulate a developmentally appropriate learning journey for your child.

Settling Process: We have a recommended pre-visit plan that encourages three short pre-visits to help you and your child transition to our center. Settling visits will commence approximately 2 weeks before your child's start date.

1st Visit: 30 minutes to 1 hour with you in the center.
2nd Visit: 20 –30 minutes in the center with you, followed by 20 –30 minutes without you.
Your child will be in our responsible care. You will need to sign them in and return all your
completed enrollment forms. However, you will also need to remain in the center.
3rd Visit: 1 hour in the center without you. As with the second visit, your child will be in our
responsible care. You will need to sign your child in and ensure all of your enrollment forms
are completed and returned to us before you leave.

What to Bring: Please provide:
• Enough nappies for your child's session (approximately 5 for a full day).
• At least one complete change of clothes and a wet bag.
• Warm clothing for winter, including a coat and hat.
• A sunhat (Sun protection in summer).
• If your child arrives before 8:20 am, we can serve them breakfast that you will provide.
• A drink bottle.
• A family photo
• If your child has special attachments to cuddly toys/blankets, you are welcome to bring
these.
• Please ensure all belongings are clearly named.

You are more than welcome to visit Active Explorers St Lukes and speak with our Kaiako to
learn more about what we can offer you and your child. We encourage you to bring your
child along so they can experience and enjoy the learning environment in the Tipu room.
We are excited to get to know you and your child. If you have any questions or need further
information, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Warm regards,
Tipu Team