Our Philosophy

Through the magical connections they forge with the world around them, children discover and nurture the very essence of their being. Within our close-knit learning and wider community, we weave collaborative partnerships that speak the language of love, kindness, and respect. These bonds allow us to truly know our families and celebrate their unique cultural and aspirational identities. In an environment where authentic relationships thrive, children experience emotional security, acceptance, and with intention, are supported to embark on a wondrous journey of learning and self-discovery.

Our practice is guided by principles that weave connections: partnership, participation, and protection, guided by our bicultural curriculum, Te Whāriki. We wholeheartedly embrace the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, respecting the profound significance of weaving core kaupapa Māori into our centre philosophy and core values. Our commitment extends beyond mere words; it’s a heartfelt dedication to nurturing Māori language, culture, and aspirations. By doing so, we honour our collective identity.

Social and emotional competence helps children build healthy relationships, navigate their environments effectively, and lays the foundation for long-term success. Within our nurturing learning environment, teachers foster open communication and mutual respect. They guide children through social interactions and offer emotional support when needed. Recognising each child’s uniqueness, our teachers collaborate with families to not only nurture social and emotional development, but the holistic child as a taonga (precious gift).

Our Mission Statement​

In harmony with the guiding principles of Te Whāriki, our mission is to honour and nurture the innate uniqueness and potential of every tamaiti (child), embracing them in aroha (love)and fostering a sense of belonging and connection through whanaungatanga (relationships). We commit to creating an environment that exemplifies Manaakitanga (caring), offering respect, care, and encouragement as we guide the holistic development of each tamaiti (child). Our commitment is to nurture children through meaningful play and exploration, embracing the journey of learning as a collaborative, yet honouring their individuality.

I addition to our dedication to the tamariki, we equally commit to supporting and valuing our kaiako and whānau, fostering, an inclusive community where open dialogue, mutual respect and shared knowledge enrich us all.

Our Program

The Secret Garden provides a very personal approach to your child's early childhood education, with internationally acclaimed programs and philosophies at its core. Our experience tells us that there's no 'one size fits all' approach, so we've created a program all of our own that is flexible and adaptable to the needs of your child as they grow and develop.

Ours is an inviting and engaging environment where children are able to explore, play and learn simultaneously. We provide structured learning alongside opportunities for self expression and free play.

Te Whāriki is used as the foundation for our learning environment. The program's framework emphasises the learning partnership between teachers, parents and whanau. Teachers create a holistic curriculum in response to children's learning and development in the early childhood setting and the wider context of the child's world. Through this program it is our goal to help children prepare for future learning environments. To find out more about Te Whāriki and the NZ Ministry of Education's early childhood curriculum policy framework click here.

Secret Garden HOWICK

Our beautiful purpose designed space is designed for a maximum of 44 children aged from 2 years to school starting age.

Our indoor area has been created by architects who know how kids play and learn. Beautifully equipped with hand selected resources our light and bright interior is designed to stay warm in winter and cool in summer. A uniquely designed ceiling tilt creates interesting shapes and shadows for growing minds and reduces noise reverberation, allowing our children to learn in a quieter, calmer environment.

Outside is even more exciting, with sheltered nooks for mud pie parties, a dual slide and a nature inspired water play feature. With landscaped tracks and play equipment derived from nature there’s plenty of places for kids to get their daily dose of Vitamin D. Our carefully tended garden beds, fruit trees, flowers and natives will keep growing gardeners and explorers busy no matter what the season.

Children adore discovering and learning both inside and out, hence we’ve created plenty of opportunities for both. It is our aim that all children at The Secret Garden receive a wide range of rich learning experiences whilst they feel 'at home' in a genuinely warm and nurturing environment.

Children are encouraged to develop their personal capabilities, strengths, interests and learning styles. Our experienced team of professional Early Childhood Educators strive to ensure each and every child at The Secret Garden LOVES their time at preschool and has their individual needs met with love, patience and understanding. Our teachers encourage children to think for themselves, make decisions and work towards their own solutions, by expressing their own ideas and feelings.

We work together closely with parents and families to ensure all of our children are happy, healthy and fulfilling their absolute potential for learning. We feel it is a privilege to play such an important part in nurturing and guiding your children through their preschool years and we genuinely love what we do.

We hope you will visit us at The Secret Garden soon, but in the meantime please don't hesitate to get in touch by phone or email for a chat.