SPCA’s Resources for Early Learning provides a real life, meaningful framework with the principles, strands and goals of Te Whāriki woven throughout. Tamariki are encouraged to learn in a way that is their own, reflecting their learning context, supported by the adults who know them best to achieve positive, empathetic and compassionate outcomes for human and non-human members of society.

Tamariki construct knowledge as they make meaning of their world through active engagement in authentic interactions with people, places and things. SPCA’s Resources for Early Learning empower tamariki to learn through meaningful interactions that emphasise the development of knowledge, skills, attributes and dispositions that support lifelong learning and action towards greater animal welfare outcomes.

SPCA’s Resources for Early Learning endeavour to encourage a greater understanding of animal welfare and to promote positive thinking, behaviours, values and attitudes towards all living creatures. It is our hope that with the knowledge of animal needs, care and wellbeing, combined with an understanding of animal sentience, tamariki will develop greater empathy, be more compassionate, and develop a sense of kaitiakitanga, guardianship and responsibility for the non-human members of society.

With a holistic play-based approach these resources acknowledge tamariki are on their own unique learning journey and support Te Whāriki’s vision, that tamariki are “competent and confident learners, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society” (MoE, 2017).