Over 2s Programme

Our Over 2s Programme provides children with rich opportunities for uninterrupted play, exploration, and learning. Our teachers create a welcoming environment that supports children's interests, encourages independence, and fosters meaningful relationships with peers and adults.

As a mixed-age centre, we value the social and emotional learning that occurs through collaborative play and shared experiences. Guided by the P5 strategies, children are supported to make informed choices, develop self-regulation, and build confidence in themselves as capable learners.

Children's wellbeing remains at the heart of our programme. We offer a period of rest and relaxation each day, allowing children time to recharge and prepare for the afternoon's learning experiences. Children aged four years and over may also participate in our Transition to School Group.

Transition to School Group

Our Transition to School Group is designed for children aged four years and over and supports the development of the skills, dispositions, and confidence needed for a successful transition to school. In keeping with our philosophy of a negotiated curriculum, children's interests, ideas, and emerging learning help shape the programme and its experiences.

Transition to School Group

Transition to School Group is specifically for 4+-year-old children, in keeping with the Centre’s philosophy of a ‘negotiated curriculum’.

More details on the Transition to School Group

Welcome to the Over Twos — Nau mai, haere mai ki ngā tuakana

As part of welcoming your child and family to our centre, and in addition to the information pack you have received, we have put together this introduction to our 'over twos' area that we hope will help familiarise you with our centre routines and practices.

The teaching team at Kids at Play rotates between the under-twos and over-twos areas. The Centre Supervisor (Louna) and other teachers are available to answer queries from parents, staff, and students, including other teaching team members.

Any information you can share about your child, in addition to what you provided on the enrolment form, will help staff and your child. For example, … didn't have much breakfast today and had an unsettled night, etc. After sharing this information with the team, please record it in the daily message book so all teachers are aware as they begin their rostered shift. The message book is located in the parent sign-in area.

Your child's day will be filled with many opportunities to participate in, investigate, and explore activities fueled by their interests. We ask that your child wear clothing suitable for our centre's vigors. We suggest old clothing that you won't mind if it shows the signs of a busy day's work! Please label your child's clothing so we can return it to the right child. The centre will not take responsibility for unnamed clothing.

Lockers: Please note that these are shared with other children. If your child doesn't attend every day. Please ensure the locker is cleared daily (i.e., bags and artwork).

Name board: We have a name wall in the O2S with each child's Name on it. Please help your child place their Name on the board when you arrive in the morning. This supports your child's developing recognition of their Name and early literacy skills.

Parent pocket: Each family will have a parent pocket. Please check your family/parent pocket to stay well-informed about the centre, as it will contain messages, birthday invites, lost property, etc.

Story Park: Your family will be signed up to Story Park, a private online community to which you, as the parent, will have immediate access. Centre documentation, such as your child's learning stories, plans, photos and messages from the centre relating to your child's involvement, will be accessible via this site. Story Park allows families to view messages and stories instantly and respond with their own messages/stories/photos, and any other thoughts they may have. It also allows you to invite additional family members and close friends to view your child's page.
We have an accident and illness register if your child has an accident/illness while in our care. We record the details, inform you at pick-up, and ask that you sign our register. Please watch for messages on the sign-in app when signing your child in and out of the centre.
Medication: All medication to be administered to your child while in our care must be written in our daily message book, and all details must be recorded in the medicines folder by the parent/caregiver. 2 staff members will sign this after it has been administered; it must be signed out at the end of the day by the parent/caregiver upon pick-up. Please note that we are only able to administer current (one-month) prescribed medication, and this must be sighted by our staff when issuing (i.e., a prescription label on the bottle)

Birthdays: Our centre's healthier options menu does not require birthday cakes. Instead, we hold a special mat time celebration where the birthday child receives their own birthday certificate and birthday song.

Meals: The centre follows a four-weekly menu plan, which is displayed on the wall beside the kitchen and on the centre's webpage, www.kidsatplay.org.nz. The centre's menu aligns with the Health Heart foundation for children under 6 years.

Daily toileting and nappy information is available on the bathroom whiteboard. Please place named nappies on the bathroom shelves each morning. We recommend providing at least five nappies per day.
We support toilet learning in a positive and respectful way, recognising that children develop these skills at different times. While readiness varies for every child, we generally encourage families to begin considering toilet training from around two years of age. We believe toileting is a natural part of children's growing independence and work in partnership with families to provide a consistent and supportive approach. Families considering toilet training are welcome to request our toilet learning information guide.
This wording keeps the expectation clear while remaining supportive and respectful of individual development. I think it aligns nicely with your centre philosophy and gives families a gentle prompt that toilet learning should be on the radar from around age two.

Sleep: Children who sleep during the day. We will record sleepers' sleep times on the sleep chart daily for parents to view. If you wish for your child's sleep to be restricted, please record this in the message book for the teachers to read.

We endeavour to give you positive feedback on your child's day, but please do not hesitate to ask if we have not offered it.

Over 2s Gallery

Our Tree

A large old tree in the playground proves an excellent display model for the Seasons and Weather.

Sandpit Pose

Situated in a corner of the playground surrounded by feijoa plants and tee-tree fencing, our sandpit is perfectly secluded for cooking, building and potting around.

High Bridge

A steep bridge links the bike track to the lawn area. Perfect for sliding, hiding and extending the imagination of little Goats Gruff.

Beach Combe

Walk through the thatched roof hut to find yourself in the sandpit surrounded by fish or at the jetty. The dingy makes a perfect vessel for the imagination to sail wild.

Sand & Water

On a hot sunny day, the shaded sandpit with it’s water barrel invites many mud pie cooks and their taste testers.

Peeking in

The feijoa plants boarding the sandpit will be a great hit next autumn. Tightly guarded from the Centre’s free-ranging rabbit, these fruit trees are for the children EB (Easter Bunny).

In the heart of Mt Eden

A healthy green hedge separating our littlest learners from any loose ends from the streets.

Natures World

Two large trees give perfect shading for little explorers on a hot sunny day.

Outdoor space

With this much outdoor playground area in Central Auckland, there’s room for running, jumping and scooter bike racing.

Playground

Alongside the permanent playground, the environment is complemented with a different physical challenge every day.

Sun Safe

The large shade cloth is erected every year in October and removed at the end of March for Autumn. During these months Sunblock is supplied and applied to all children after their midday nap.

Without the Shade Cloth

Removing the shade cloth during the cooler seasons and enjoying the sunshine.

Slides

Two slides on the playgrounds is fantastic for a class of 30.

Astroturf

It may not be real grass but it’s perfect for all year round play and exploration on the lawn area. And there’s plenty of mud to mad in the sandpit!

Wall Displays

Children’s learning and exploration are displayed throughout the indoor environment.

Emerging Topics

Group enquiries are investigated through all areas of the curriculums and include child and parent voice.

Family Environment

Providing a family environment that is inclusive, collaborative and considerate of our families and their aspirations for their children.

Friendship

Children are encouraged to work with others developing confidence to explore their ideas. Understanding their interest is meaningful and appreciating others may have different ones.

Physical Education

Physical exploration is seen as the foundation to all learning.

360 Bike Track

Not only for the trikes and scooters, our bike circuit makes a great track for running races, hurdles and high jump events.

Everchanging

Challenging gross motor learning experiences are provided to build confidence, courage and self-esteem.

Investigation

Investigating change, exploring mixing and adding textures, children are developing scientific ideas about their world.

Language

Learning to use descriptive language labelling movements and discoveries. Developing strategies for active investigation, thinking and reasoning.

Centre Events

Our annual Christmas Party is always the highlight of the year. Children and their whanau enjoy a festive afternoon sharing songs, food and well earned gifts.

Christmas Party Performance

The children usually perform some type of show for their families with the rehearsal build up creating a fantastic atmosphere of the festive season

Creative arts

Nurturing an environment that values self-expression, creativity and fosters a child’s developing sense of aesthetics.

Flexibility

Creating an environment that is flexible and accepting to the different ways individual children learn and explore.

Wooden Blocks

The Over 2s area has an impressive collection of quality wooden blocks and wooden train sets.

Superhero’s Welcome

This is a place for all those superheroes looking for a place to practice their defence skills and play in a safe environment.

Excursions

Small group learning and central city location means we’re not too far away from the Botanical Gardens, Pt Chev Beach, Auckland Zoo, Motat and Western Springs just to name a few amazing educational places.

Over 2s

Over 2s Programme

Transition to School Group

Transition to School Group

Welcome to the Over Twos — Nau mai, haere mai ki ngā tuakana

Over 2s Gallery

LOCATION

HOURS