Welcome to
Little Hoofprints
We are passionate about children and their childhood, especially healthy development. Your child's success in life is our highest priority. Our approach develops your child's brain in exactly the way that a child of this age would need - this means that developmentally we focus on cognitive, emotional, mental, social and physical development and we acknowledge the impact that these areas can have on each other. Giving children the home away from home experience and the surroundings to develop your child in a natural, fun, warm environment. When you join Little Hoofprints, you join a family!
Mission
At Little Hoofprints we use play in all the learning. These play based learning activities have two very important parts. The one part being the teacher - led play based activities, where the focus is on specific learning and outcomes. The second part is free play where the child can engage with the environment, each other and toys by using their imagination and move and explore! Engaging with real objects to engage all the systems including the sensory system. Your child's
academic future and emotional well being is of utmost importance at Little Hoofprints. Our mission is to create an environment where optimal learning and development can take place, while giving children the opportunity to still be children, protecting their childhood. Giving the brain, body and nervous system what it needs to develop the way that was intended. To send well rounded and resilient children into the world. Every child only has one childhood.
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“Children still need a childhood with dirt, mud, puddles, trees, sticks and tadpoles” – Brook Hampton.
Vision
We offer farm like surroundings, with all our animal friends roaming around. The children have the freedom of running around, playing with mud, patting a sheep, feeding the guinea pigs, riding the ponies and much more. We believe in nurturing a child's development through play and we also use attachment based teaching. When a child feels safe emotionally and a child's nervous system can function optimally, learning takes place naturally. We make sure your child gets all the input and education they need to go to a mainstream school or any other school of your choice.
People often think play based learning is inferior and less important than traditional formal learning in early childhood development. Children under 7 years old should not be learning in a formal way - research is clear on that. Research shows that children who developed and learned through play based learning models, thrive later in life, have high developed intelligences, well developed sensory systems, emotional wellbeing and self confidence and their nervous systems had an opportunity to become stronger and resilient, in addition they have a curiosity for learning which leaves them with a positive disposition with regards to academic work later in life. We cultivate a love for learning! We do some formal work with our older kids to prepare the children for Grade R and Grade 1 - but our approach is more child orientated.
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Our team specialise in early childhood development and learning. We are passionate about every child and the reason we only take 20 learners per year is to make sure your child gets the individual attention, love and input he/she needs.
We also believe that children need structure, predictability, routine and also with that, they need time to explore and play.
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Please note, we are not a special needs/remedial school.
