Dream Education Programme
Kia ora Whānau!
Our Dream Education Programme supports little tamariki as they grow and learn in your home and your local community environments. It is based on the principle that playing and participating in real-life experiences will enhance independence. The program also nurtures every tamariki's desire to explore and engage in meaningful relationships.
Our Philosophy
At Dream we are all about making family life easier.
We believe that children should be treated as individuals. This enables them to develop learning dispositions that make them competent, confident learners, and communicators. Children need to be healthy in mind, body and spirit and secure in their sense of belonging.
We offer children opportunities to embrace the wider community through the physical and natural world around them.
A Dream Educator provides a secure, safe and stimulating environment to promote children's learning and development within a small group of children. The children in your care will experience everyday life situations, allowing them to learn valuable life skills.
Prioritizing respect and understanding for people from diverse cultures and their values is important for a Dream Educator. We value open communication among our tamariki, staff, parents/whānau, fostering close links between home, our service, and the broader community.
We aim to show our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and New Zealand's bi-cultural heritage whilst also acknowledging all other cultural identities within our service.
Respect ourselves and others
Our focus is on building respectful, positive, collaborative reciprocal relationships. Whanaungatanga remains at the heart of our service with tamariki, whānau, Dream staff, and outside support services.
As a team, we aim to provide a premium service for our whanau and their tamariki. Visiting Teachers support you as a Dream Educator in your ongoing studies, furthering education both formally and informally, guided by the principles of Te Whaariki.
Open communication
Respectful open communication with each other, tamariki, and whānau is essential for a Dream Educator. Engaging in critically reflective learning and practices enables us to ensure that tamariki’s needs, interests, and abilities are recognized and supported through play. Additionally, we organize monthly children events to encourage the children to develop a positive attitude towards nature.
Whānau is a as a vital part of any tamariki’s world. Work to ensure they feel welcome, valued and respected. Providing a Home-Based Early Childhood Environment with a consistent primary educator encourages tamariki in particular infants in establishing a secure relationship from which to independently explore and investigate their world.
Benefits
Tamariki in your care
- As part of the Dream Education Programme your tamariki individual learning and development will be recognised and nurtured by both you and your Visiting Teacher.
- Encourage the children in your care to learn through play to reach their full potential.
For you as an Dream Educator
- Personal support from a qualified Visiting Teacher.
- Access to playgroups, outings, nature play and more.
- Regular social events.
Meet our Visiting Teachers
Lynette
Mell
Andrea
Sue
Education Manager
Lynette
Lynette has been working in the early childhood sector for over 30 years, dedicating the last 15 years to the Home-Based sector. During earlier years, she excelled in managing early childhood centers and worked as a Nanny while raising her children. Holding a Diploma of Early Childhood Education, full teacher’s registration, and a current first aid certificate. Passionate about supporting children and caregivers, she dedicates herself to planning and organizing events. She finds joy in sharing her knowledge and witnessing the wonder of children exploring their environment. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling overseas and exploring more of the world with her husband.
Visiting Teacher
Mell
Hi, I’m Mell. I have been working in the Early Childhood Education sector since 2009, gaining experience with all age groups of children under six years old. As a fully qualified and registered Early Childhood Teacher, I take pleasure in exploring music and movement, Te Ao Maori, the natural environment, and storytelling with children. I love working with children, their Au Pairs, Nannies, and Educators, and find particular enjoyment in my role as a Visiting Teacher. Originally from West Auckland, I cherish spending days at West Coast beaches or bushwalking through the Waitakere ranges with my son.
Visiting Teacher
Andrea
Andrea has been working in the Early Childhood sector for over 28 years. Initially starting as a Nanny before transitioning to roles in Childcare Centres as a Teacher and Centre Manager. She even contributed to setting up a brand-new Centre from scratch. Over the past 8 years, Andrea has excelled as a Visiting Teacher, enjoying the varied responsibilities and expressing a particular fondness for baby cuddles and engaging conversations with inquisitive 3-5 year-olds. Residing in Cockle Bay with her husband Dale and son Jack. Andrea cherishes time spent with her 4 energetic nephews. Beyond work, Andrea finds joy in family and friend gatherings, travels in their caravan, indulges in baking, and has a passion for watching cricket!
Visiting Teacher
Sue
Sue is passionate about Early Childhood Education and partnering with families in their child’s learning journey. Pursuing her lifelong dream by training as an ECE teacher. Over the last 37 years, she has played a central role in raising her family (husband, 3 children, 2 dogs, 5 cats, 2 lovebirds and a multitude of rabbits). With a wealth of experience, Sue has managed Early Childhood Centres and home-based providers. Additionally, she loves mentoring families as a Family worker and tutoring Nannies in the Diploma of Early Childhood Care and Education. Her primary goal in life is to create a positive impact on young children, young adults, Early Childhood Teachers, or families. Making a difference in the lives of others with a sprinkle of world wide travel thrown in.
Online Portfolio
Educa
Dream Education Programme whānau can keep track of their children’s learning via Educa, a secure app that can be downloaded onto any iPhone or Android device.
The app holds a portfolio of your tamariki’s monthly learning stories and in-depth reports that are shared by you and your Visiting Teacher.
As a Dream Educator you can add photos, videos and stories that can then be downloaded and printed by your families. Families have the option to connect other relatives to their Educa account. This ensures that everyone stays updated on the significant milestones and exciting learning adventures their children experience under your guidance!
New Zealand Ministry of Education
Education Review Office (ERO)
The Dream Education Programme is licensed by the New Zealand Ministry of Education. We pride ourselves in our commitment to providing a quality educational programme to the child/ren in your care. Feel free to have a look at our recent ERO reports here.
Te Whāriki
Funded by the Ministry of Education, the programme weaves together the principles and strands of Te Whāriki. This creates a holistic, tamariki-centred local curriculum to suit your little ones. A monthly visit from one of our qualified and registered Visiting Teachers, and regular activities are just a couple of ways we make this happen.
The programme is designed to keep learning fun. It can be adapted to your whānau’s needs as we believe your home and local community are an integral part of your little one’s development.