Balclutha Kindergarten

26/11/2024
- At He Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens, we have over 108 kindergartens across the regions we serve, bringing learning, connection, and fun to families across Whanganui, Central Plateau, Horowhenua, Kapiti, Porirua, Greater Wellington, Upper Hutt, Wairarapa and South Otago. We also provide a home-based service - Etu Ao in Porirua and Levin.
- Our vision for He Whānau Manaaki o Tararua is derived from our belief in the importance of quality early childhood education for the children themselves, their whānau, their community and for Aotearoa New Zealand. Therefore, we seek to be a leader in the provision of high-quality early childhood education, and by demonstrating what can be achieved, be seen as advocates for children and whānau and help to improve quality early childhood education throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Out of this vision comes Ngā Uara - Our Values:

- Nurturing the mana of the child
- Kounga - Quality
- Mahi Tahi - Partnership
- Pono - Integrity
- More than 6,000 children now attend one of Whānau Manaaki’s 109 kindergartens and around 150 children are enrolled with our Pasifika-focused Etu Ao homebased service.

**Community Description**
- Balclutha Kindergarten is situated just off the main street of Balclutha on the south side of the bridge. Balclutha is 80 km south of Dunedin, which is the closet city. The kindergarten is on the same street as the Balclutha primary school. We have strong relationships with our local primary schools. This is through being active participants in the Big River Kahui Ako which is where educational services from birth to entering the work force, who collaborate to enhance the educational pathways for all children.
- Balclutha has a long history as it was the first Kindergarten in the South Otago area. We have a strong affiliation with our awa the Matau-au which is the main river that links our smaller rural communities together.

The Enviroschools Kaupapa underpins our programme where we focus on caring for people places and things.
- We pride ourselves in providing innovative programmes for our Tamariki with Ngahere (Forrest) and Splash-quatics which is a swim programme.
- Balclutha Kindergarten prides itself on our vision of being a place where relationships fuel responsibility, resilience, confidence, empathy and a love of learning. We thrive in providing for our community which is diverse in culture, language and identity and celebrating this diversity.

**This is a fulltime position worked Monday to Friday 8.00-4.30pm**

**We are looking for an enthusiastic ECE kaiako who**:

- Has an ability to stay calm under pressure and respond in a calm positive manner maintaining the mana of the learner at all times.
- Have a passion for physical activity and have the energy and enthusiasm to work alongside physically active tamariki.
- A forward strategic thinker who is in the moment when working in a busy kindergarten, being present and fully aware of what is happening around them with individual and groups of tamariki to support successful interactions.
- Builds strong relationships with the tamariki and their whanau and use the knowledge shared to ensure success for every learner
- A positive and curious mindset with the confidence to give and receive feedback and seeing this as the key to growing practice.

**Applications close on Tuesday, 10th December 20245 at 11.50pm