The Early Learning Podcast Storypark

Today we're at Papamoa, the fifth and final Above and Beyond centre. Join Michelle and Olivia's conversation about creativity, the arts, and the importance of boredom!

Today we're sitting down for a chat with education leader, Cathryn, to discuss innovative, sustainable practice at your centre. We also covered structure vs free play, the importance of being bored, and more!

Helping families transition into your center smoothly and comfortably is not an easy task. Today we're hearing from Dawn about how she approaches welcoming families to the Above and Beyond centers in Tauranga, New Zealand. She has a special role dedicated to welcoming families and supporting educational leaders with their administration tasks. It's an interesting management decision to employ someone specifically for these things, and one that will be interesting to viewers who are in early childhood management positions themselves.

It's important to be supportive and inclusive of all the different cultures that attend your early learning service. Today, Michelle sat down for a cup of tea with Above and Beyond CEO Colleen, and Sam, the education leader the Te Puna centre. They discuss some of their greatest challenges and successes when it comes to community and culture in early childhood.

#earlychildhoodinnovation #supportingdiversity #inclusiveECE

We sat down with the owners and operators of Above and Beyond Education & Care Centres to talk about their journey growing from a single centre into a unique multi-site organisation.

Michelle introduces the series and we take a look at what is coming up. We will be spending time with the Above and Beyond centres in Tauranga, New Zealand. Above and Beyond is a network of 5 early childhood centres. Their unique approach to early childhood is founded upon the arts and creativity. The Above and Beyond centres have been a labour of love, intricately designed to be unique and inspire creativity in children. Each one has its own theme which is faithfully carried out across the entire centre. From Alice’s wonderland, to a magical castle; one inspired by Dr Suess, and another, Winnie the Pooh! The care and attention to detail was amazing to see firsthand, and over the course of this series you will get to join us as we look into each one in detail.

In terms of philosophy and innovation - Above and Beyond, like the name suggests, believe in going the extra mile to nurture the development of children. In the short time we were with them the children performed for a local author, visited a music studio to record a song, they were joined by a local artist, and harvested their own freshly grown vegetables for lunch! We got to meet educators and administration staff to talk in detail about art, drama, music, multiculturalism, sustainability, how they welcome new children, and how their centres support not only children, but their wider communities too.


Throughout the series we’ll sit in on discussions about community, sustainability, transitions, structure versus free play and “the importance of being bored!” So whether you agree with everything Above and Beyond do or not, we're sure you’ll find that watching it inspires you in some way.