Whangarei Step Ahead early learning centre continues where Baby Steps left off

Carolyn Davis, left, and Laura Stevens at Step Ahead in Kamo. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A new early learning centre has opened in Whangarei.

Located in Grant St, Kamo, Step Ahead is owned by Carolyn Davis and is the "big sister" centre to Baby Steps in Deveron St.

Mrs Davis said Step Ahead came about as a response to the parents of Baby Steps' participants who were heart broken when their child turned 2 and had to leave their "home away from home - and struggled to find an over 2-year-old centre that treated their child the way we did".

So four years on Step Ahead was born.

"We were lucky enough to find another beautiful house to convert and create a stunning boutique, private kindergarten for our families that shared the same respectful philosophy."

Mrs Davis said the biggest challenge of being in this sort of business was getting parents to understand the choices they have for their child.

"There are a lot of very different centres out there that are offering varying degrees of quality for children, also hours of operation, costs and teachers. It's so important that parents shop around as their child deserves the very best at such a crucial age.

"It's also always hard saying goodbye to our families when they move on to school."

Step Ahead aims to provide a home away from home where children are respected and provided for developmentally.

"We have three amazing fully qualified teachers [a fourth is coming] who are very experienced with this age group and set up an environment that is probably one of the most beautiful and provocative ones in Whangarei.

"We offer a farm/nature programme every Friday during term time for our oldest children which is something our children really look forward to."

The underlying philosophy of Step Ahead's approach to early childhood care is respect, said head teacher Laura Stevens.

"Respect for each other, them, ourselves and the environment," Mrs Stevens said.

"As a team we wrote our philosophy together. We are very blessed that as a team we share the same beliefs that children come to us capable and competent, and as teachers we respect that and encourage the children to be independent, researchers, explorers and to question.

"It is important to us that Step Ahead feels like a home away from home for our children and their whanau, and this is obviously how it does feel as this is a common comment said to us by our families and visitors to Step Ahead."

Mrs Stevens said the Step Ahead team draws inspiration from several sources such as Reggio, Steiner and Montessori as well as a respect and passion for nature, which is why they offer the farm/nature programme that allows them to spend a day exploring on a farm and forest environment.