Child working on a craft project at a table with various art supplies, including scissors, markers, colored paper, glue, and a coloring book.

OUR PHILOSOPHY AND VALUES

At Villa Aroha, we believe that every child is a unique, competent, and capable learner who deserves to be loved, respected, and celebrated for who they are. We are committed to providing a nurturing, inspiring, and inclusive environment where children can explore, discover, create, and grow at their own pace, guided by their natural curiosity and wonder about the world. Our philosophy is grounded in the principles and strands of Te Whāriki, New Zealands early childhood curriculum, and is enriched by our commitment to nature-based learning, bicultural practice, and authentic partnership with whānau and families.

OUR VALUES

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OUR VALUES -

Children planting a small tree or plant outdoors in a garden or park.
Three young children playing on a green plastic seesaw at a playground, wearing colorful sun hats and casual clothes, with playground equipment and a wooden fence in the background.

Aroha (Love and Compassion)

Creating a nurturing, warm community. Aroha is at the heart of everything we do. We create a warm, loving environment where children feel safe, valued, and cherished, and where we show compassion and kindness to children, families, and each other.

Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship)

Caring for our environment and each other. We are guardians of our natural world and our community, teaching children to care for the environment through hands-on experiences in our gardens, outdoor spaces, and through sustainable practices.

A young girl crouching on the floor playing with a toy car, while an older boy stands nearby watching, in an indoor setting.
A young child is standing on a red rug with white dotted lines, surrounded by colorful toy dinosaurs, stuffed animals, and storage bins, in a playroom.

Whanaungatanga (Relationships)

Building strong connections. We value strong, authentic relationships as the foundation of learning and wellbeing, building connections between children, families, staff, and our wider community, and honouring the whakapapa and stories of all who are part of our community.

A young girl with dark hair playing with wooden blocks and dolls at a table in a brightly lit room.

Manaakitanga (Generosity and Hospitality)

Welcoming and supporting all. We welcome and support all children, families, and staff with generosity of spirit, creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported.

Pākiki (Curiosity)

Fostering wonder and exploration. We celebrate childrens natural curiosity and wonder about the world, creating rich learning environments that invite exploration, questioning, discovery, creativity, and imagination.

A young boy stacking colorful soft blocks with letters and animal images on a white table in front of a plain gray wall.

WE BELIEVE THAT: 

● Children learn best when they feel safe, loved, and valued. We create a warm, nurturing environment where aroha (love, compassion, and respect) is at the heart of everything we do, and where every child feels a deep sense of belonging and wellbeing.

● Children are natural explorers and investigators. We provide rich, open-ended learning
experiences both indoors and outdoors that spark curiosity, invite exploration, and support children to develop confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills.

● Nature is a powerful teacher. We embrace nature-based learning, connecting children with the natural world through gardening, outdoor exploration, environmental care, and hands- on experiences that foster kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and a deep respect for our
environment.

● Relationships are the foundation of learning and wellbeing. We build strong, authentic
relationships with children, families, and our community, honouring whanaungatanga
(connections and relationships) and working in partnership to support each childs learning journey.

● Culture, language, and identity matter. We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership, integrate te reo Māori and tikanga Māori throughout our curriculum, and celebrate the diverse cultures, languages, and identities of all children and families in our community.

● Play is the primary vehicle for learning. We provide rich opportunities for child-initiated play, hands-on exploration, and intentional teaching that supports children to develop across all areas of learning—social skills, emotional wellbeing, physical development, communication, creativity, and cognitive growth.

● Every child has unlimited potential. We have high expectations for all children, supporting them to develop the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and values they need to thrive in life and become confident, capable, lifelong learners with empathy and kindness in their hearts.

● Families are childrens first and most important teachers. We value and respect the
knowledge, aspirations, and cultural practices of whānau and families, working in genuine partnership to support each childs learning and development.