Equipping Children for Life

27 Jan 2010

A Salvation Army-run early childhood education centre (ECEC) in Britomart Street, Wellington, received a glowing ERO report at the close of 2009 because of its adherence to the centre’s philosophy and dedication to excellence in student learning. The centre is managed and supervised by Salvationist Amy Hutson.

Though the centre has always maintained a Christian basis for education, it was after The Salvation Army New Zeal conference in 2009, which emphasised ‘heaven invading earth’, that staff fully realised their potential to speak into the lives of children at their centre and the wider families. A visit to another Salvation Army ECEC, ‘Kidz Matter 2 Us’ in Waitakere, by Amy and teacher Amanda Pethybridge also provided inspiration.

‘New Zeal was certainly one catalyst,’ says Amy, ‘but our visit to Waitakere was another.

Integrating Christian faith and God for children

New Zeal helped us to know that God had a plan for what we were doing, but Waitakere was really insightful because we could instantly feel the presence of God in their centre. We could see simple ways to integrate Christian faith and God for our children. We were after a natural way to do that and we found some really easy but impacting things at Waitakere.’

Amanda has been a teacher at the centre for the past two years and is one of a number of Salvationists on staff. ‘Our passion is to empower children and their learning,’ she says. ‘But our main priority is sowing positive seeds into these children’s lives, to teach them about the Kingdom and about Jesus and to eventually see our families coming to church.’

Day-to-day learning incorporates Christian principles in children’s daily routines. This includes prayers before meals and nap time, Bible stories and the recent addition of the ‘Prayer Bear’. ‘The children sit around in a circle and pass the Prayer Bear around,’ Amanda explains. ‘When they hold the Prayer Bear they say a little prayer. These started out as simple prayers, being thankful for Mummy and Daddy, but they have really developed. Some of the kids are starting to pray for other children or if someone is sick. It’s really exciting.’

Recently the centre received funding to present each child with a Bible when they leave at age five, the same version used at the centre, increasing the chance of stories sticking with the children as they get older. The funding came from Wellington South Corps Band, which donated half of the proceeds of a pre-tour concert as well as some additional money raised during its trip.

Amy, Amanda and Mary McDonald, another teacher, made the strategic decision to become part of Wellington South Corps in 2009, where teacher Nicole Jellyman and centre cook Tina Tonge also belong. ‘The purpose was to form relationships with a local corps, so that we have a faith community for our centre’s parents to go to,’ says Amy.

When ERO reviewers arrived near the end of last year to conduct their review, they took into mind the centre’s Christian principles as well as its educational quality. They came away impressed. ‘It’s the most impressive ERO report we’ve ever had,’ said Amy. ‘They couldn’t fault us.’

The reviewers also requested to use some of the centre’s written learning material for their exemplar folders, something staff are very excited about. Amy and Amanda say the centre’s glowing report stems from a positive team environment, which has an emphasis on communication, working together and the ability to be flexible.

‘Our success is down to God’s timing and our listening to God,’ says Amy. ‘We thought it was a big task, but if you just open yourself and allow God to use you for his purposes then the possibilities are limitless.’

Salvation Army ECECs

The Salvation Army has seven ECEC centres throughout the North Island, each one providing specialised service to meet a particular community’s needs. Fay Clarke, ECEC national consultant, says the Christian perspective is a priority for each centre along with providing high quality education and care. ‘All our centres want the best for children; the focus is on the children and on bringing out the special qualities, strengths and skills each one has.

‘Three of our centres have introduced “Love letters” for the children, written by the parents,’ she says. ‘Parents are invited to write to their child, post it in the centre post box and have it read out to that child. The letter is then added to the child’s profile folder. This is often the first time a parent has written a letter to their child. Staff ensure that every child gets a letter. It is very moving for staff, children and parents to be involved in such positive affirmation for children.

ECEC work is an integral part of the Army’s mission, says Fay. ‘Our early childhood centres are part of the holistic ministry The Salvation Army provides to families, contributing to social and spiritual wellbeing by empowering people and equipping children for life.’

By Cara Wood (from War Cry magazine)