Welcome to Urban Explorers
We look forward to welcoming you
Welcome to Urban Explorers where our passionate staff are dedicated to providing a warm and nurturing environment for your child's early years.
At Urban Explorers, we embrace the rich natural surroundings and integrate them into our educational approach. We implement the Te Whāriki curriculum, ensuring that each child's learning journey is tailored to their unique strengths, interests, and needs.
We understand the importance of strong partnerships with parents/whānau and actively collaborate with them to align our teaching practices with their aspirations for their children. Together, we create a supportive and inclusive community where every child thrives.
Join us at Urban Explorers, where our amazing staff, the beauty of rural living and a carefully crafted curriculum come together to create an exceptional early childhood experience for your little ones.
Our Curriculum
Our stunning rural surroundings provide the perfect backdrop for our early childhood education curriculum where our highly skilled kaiako guide children through a diverse and carefully crafted curriculum that is underpinned by Te Whāriki, the National NZ Early Childhood Education Framework.
Te Whāriki is founded upon four principles:
Empowerment | Whakamana – Early childhood curriculum empowers the child to learn and grow
Holistic Development | Kotahitanga – Early childhood curriculum reflects the holistic way children learn and grow
Family and Community | Whānau Tangata – The wider world of family and community is an integral part of early childhood curriculum
Relationships | Ngā Hononga – Children learn through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things
We encourage and appreciate the awareness of the
multi-cultural heritages within New Zealand.
These multi-cultural values are interwoven and visible in our curriculum and environment.
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Dear Urban Explorers Daycare Team,
the space on the leaving form was not big enough for feedback -so true to form I am going off script!
As Sam prepares to take his first steps into formal education, I wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for the wonderful experience he has had at Urban Explorers. Unlike many children Sam has attended 3 different centres -each different, and each 'fit for purpose' regarding his stage in life and our location.
From the very beginning, it was evident that our decision to enrol Sam here was the right one. On his very first day, Sam waved goodbye with a smile from the window, and that reassured us that he felt that it was a caring and nurturing environment. The consistency of staff has ensured that this remained the case.
It's clear that great effort is made to understand and cater to each child's unique needs and learning styles. Sam's growth in confidence and the various skills he has acquired during his time here have undoubtedly set him on the right path as he embarks on this exciting journey into his next stage of education.
One aspect that truly stands out at this centre is the rich diversity and multicultural environment that Urban Explorers provides. It's heartening to see children from various backgrounds and cultures come together, learning not just about academics but also about tolerance, understanding, and the beauty of differences. Sam has had the opportunity to interact with children from diverse backgrounds, and this exposure has undoubtedly enriched his worldview.
As parents, we truly valued and appreciated the personal touch that you provided. Being greeted by name and having regular discussions about Sam's developments were not just part of a curriculum but a genuine part of the everyday interactions. This personalised approach is something we value because, in our opinion, daycare is the foundation for many of life's learning opportunities. The relationship a child builds with their learning institution during this crucial phase plays a vital role in shaping their lifelong approach to knowledge, learning, and development. To be included on this journey even when not there to see it is gold.
Thank you for being such an integral part of Sam's formative years and for fostering an environment where diversity is celebrated and embraced. Your dedication, care, and professionalism have made a significant impact on his life, and for that, we are truly grateful. We will carry with us fond memories of his time at Urban Explorers, and we hope he can take the values and lessons he learned here with him as he steps into the world of formal education.
Please extend our warmest regards and thanks to the entire Urban Explorers team for the exceptional (and somewhat relentless) work you do every day. We wish you continued success in nurturing and shaping the lives of many more children in the future.
With sincere appreciation,
Sarah, Steve, and Sam Spencer