Lovely Lotus Childcare consists of two specialised rooms - the Nursery and the Preschool.

Children arrive at the Nursery at any time from 3 months old, and are welcomed by a team of dedicated infant and toddler teachers. We operate the space well above minimum staffing ratios, with around 1 teacher for every 3 children in the Nursery.

When children are ready, usually around 2 and a half years of age, they transition to the Preschool. At Preschool, children refine their social skills, learner identity, bodily autonomy, and being the process of preparing for school.

Four and a half year olds engage in our bridge programme - a specialised teaching session that runs three times a week to help prepare tamariki with the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed as they transition to primary school. At Lovely Lotus, children are welcome to stay up until their sixth birthday, and transition to school at their own pace.

Within a few weeks of starting at Lovely Lotus, regardless of age, a dedicated whānau group teacher will undertake an initial assessment of the child’s learning, interests, and areas to develop. We call this ‘Mōhiotanga’, and it represents the start of the next phase of a child’s learning journey. This assessment takes into account the aspirations and hopes that each whānau has for their child, the observations that other teachers have made, and the professional judgement and careful observation of the whānau group teacher. A hypothesis is then developed about where your child might go next, and what guidance and support will best support them. This informs a learning plan for the child.

As the child progresses towards their goal, a second formal assessment is undertaken, to gauge how the child has progressed, what dispositions and character traits have emerged, and what challenges have presented themselves. This captures the learning process, and we call it ‘Mātauranga’.

Finally, as the child reaches and fulfils their learning goal, we assess Māramatanga - the completion of a learning and enlightenment phase. This new foundation of learning serves as the ‘jumping off point’ for the next learning adventure, and we return to Mōhiotanga again.

These detailed assessments, together with learning snapshots along the way are recorded in children’s profile books, as well as being shared online via Educa, our online learning platform for parents and whānau. Together, these form a rich body of knowledge about who your child is as a learner.

Finally, teachers prepare a transition to school report, detailing your child’s learning journey for their new entrant teacher. This supports the child’s transition to school, and helps the school to understand the child as well as you do.

If a rich, varied, and intentional curriculum for your child appeals to you, click the button below to enquire about spaces for your child, or click to read our parent testimonials.