A Day At Butterfly Preschool
Settling in
Before your child starts with us, you will both enjoy time together with us, to ensure you are comfortable and your child is settled. The time needed to settle in, varies from child to child and that’s ok - we will work at your pace to ensure that everyone is happy and enjoying their time before they go solo. We understand how hard it can be leaving your child for the first time and we don’t mind you calling the centre for little reassuring check-ups.
Caterpillar Room
The Caterpillar Room is where we care for our under 2s. With a ratio of 4 children to each teacher, our philosophy is based on love and respect. Creating a homelike environment where there is an excellent sense of belonging and wellbeing is of the utmost importance.
In the Caterpillar Room we are fortunate to share the Preschool environment, while having our own safe retreat nestled in the back of the Preschool.
Children’s individual routines are carried over from their home life. Children are welcomed in the morning by Jo and Karla, both extremely experienced, registered and qualified early childhood teachers.
Butterfly Room
Every day our aim is to create some new and different experiences in an environment of familiarity and stability.
A Typical Butterfly Child's Day :
Your child is greeted by a teacher and supported to hang up their bag and put their lunch box away.
Teachers encourage parents to farewell their child, waving goodbye at the window. Each day is different at Butterfly, yet the familiar core curriculum of play-dough, paint, blocks, family play, puzzles, library, music, art and the outdoors are out everyday for your child to explore.
Rāapa - Wednesday
Walking Wednesday in terms 1 and 4
Rāpare - Thursday
Playball (during the school term)
The mobile library visits every fortnight for our 4-year-old children
Each Term
Bus excursions and fluffy trips to Piccolo Morso to celebrate 5th birthdays
Play is children's work.
Teachers try to not stop the flow of children's play. This is supported by rolling kai where children are free to eat their kai when they are ready.
The outdoor environment is always open for children to explore.
Children will find a large sandpit, a challenge course (that changes daily), water play and a large open space, where children can exert their energy. We begin our day with a whāriki time where we come together opening our day with a karakia, share our pepeha, sing waiata, read books and play games. Children are encouraged to to clean up the environment at the end of the day before coming together to be farewelled.
“The lovely team at Butterfly have been fantastic over the 4 years that Finn has attended. He has learnt so much with their love, guidance and support. We have never felt that Butterfly was just a Preschool but an extension of our family, we were always welcomed with open arms and the team always went above and beyond to make sure there were so many awesome learning opportunities for Finn. He thrived at Butterfly and is now confidently enjoying the next big step, Primary School! Thanks again to Vickie and the team! We will treasure forever your support with Finn during his early years before school and we know it has helped shape him into the loving, adventurous and self confident child we have today.”
— Megan Darling