Rationale: To incorporate quality programmes that provides meaningful and relevant learning for all children.  Teachers will know all children, their family and community.

Objective: Information will be gathered through learning stories, observations, themes, child’s interests and making connections with the wider world to improve the educational development of students and the quality of the programme.  Staff will always value and document the children in the “here and now” context. The child’s voice will be heard and respected. 

Procedure: Equal weighting will be given to assessment of the individual child and the assessment of the educational environment. Planned activities are to be interesting, involving and challenging, they will allow opportunities for expression and provide collaborative contexts. Staff are to look at individual needs and interests and relate the child/ren’s learning back to the goals of Te Whariki. Staff are to observe a child and identify how the child likes to learn and to encourage the child’s voice, their parents & whanau to encorporate into the programme planning. Planning must have the potential to extend children’s knowledge and skills to new levels.  Offer opportunities that could challenge children’s theories and ideas.  A wide range of resources will be made available to extend the learning. Staff are to understand that a climate of mutual respect can facilitate peer learning and encourage children to be responsible for their own learning.  Children may engage in mearningful learning with friends and respect will always be given to learning which is “kanohi ki te kanohi.”   Bright Stars Educare also values learning through the teina-tuakana approach.