Working with Parents

Children experience a high-quality learning environment that supports play in all seasons, with top resources and qualified teachers who love to teach.

 "Working together step by step"

The Natural Steps philosophy has its roots based firmly in this commitment to developing the whole child through active play and strong communication with parents.  We'll keep you informed every step of the way, through; 

Storypark  Our online platform to stay connected with families

Storypark is an effective two-way communication tool to share essential updates, messages, photos, and children's routines and learning. WE use storypark for:

• Your child's routine. Daily, as it happens, teachers will share your child's routine.  This will be their sleep pattern, toileting, eating and bottle timetable and anything general ie medication given, sun cream applied etc. 
• Online portfolio. Every child has an online portfolio that records their learning, an event, reaching a milestone and a celeration. Parents are encouraged to share news, memories, and information from home.
• Messages and Newsletters. Community posts allows us to share our newsletter, Connecting Steps and upload messages to all our families.
• Natural Steps Policies. All our policies are available in Storypark or please email the centre for a copy. 

We still provide hard copies of the sharing of information and learning at the centre. 

My First Steps Journal  For our infants we have a journal which provides a daily mutual feedback loop and is the child’s portfolio containing child assessment and photos. It works as a connecting link between centre and home, where teachers provide written assessment about the child’s day. Parents are encouraged to share news, memories, and information from home. 

The journal becomes a cherished keepsake of a treasured time.  It captures special moments, memories, and experiences of the child’s early years at Natural Steps.

Precious moments  This is where a parent or teacher can include a photo, art piece, footprint, handprint. It is something special connected to a learning note, celebration, an event, reaching a milestone.  This can also be used to collect Funds of Knowledge and Whānau Aspirations and record the child’s learning from the rooms planning.

Child Portfolios.  A snapshot of your child's time spent at Natural Steps illustrating your child's strengths, interests, recording their efforts, program, and achievements. This is an important book where child can revisit their learning and child are able to self access their learning. 

Connecting Steps Our newsletter with stories of teaching and learning, staff news and children news, housekeeping and memorable moments.