Philosophy

Bright Bears is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, positive environment for the children and their families. We provide quality care in an educational setting with an emphasis on meeting the children’s physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs, extending their thinking and actions with caring guidance and support. We believe that interactions and relationships between parents / whanau / children and staff contribute to a partnership that provides the best possible outcomes for the children. 

Our objectives are to provide an environment that is child centred. Bright Bears Early Childhood Centre believe that as children interact with their social and physical environments, ask questions of themselves and others and develop theories that are meaningful to them, they are constructing knowledge and developing skills. Through an emergent curriculum which follows the children’s interests, teachers support the children’s curiosity, helping them make decisions and choices through project work. We encourage children to develop and further their interests/ skills/ strengths by working independently and in collaboration with teachers and peers extending their investigative and reasoning strategies.


We incorporate te reo Maori and tikanga Maori along with the various cultures of our community into our daily curriculum. This gives the children insight and experience in the value of the uniqueness of the cultural diversity of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

With a strong, loving foundation in place, we give our children the structure on which they can build, assisting all children to grow up as competent, confident learners and communicators who can act in their own best interests and exercise their own rights while respecting the rights and needs of others.

Each child needs the finest start in life. Our overall goal is for each child to leave Bright Bears as a happy, competent and confident learner, equipped with all the necessary skills for their future.