Kids’ Domain’s culture of research and inquiry is strongly rooted in Te Whāriki and inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. It is based on the notion of kotahitanga (interconnectedness) where learning for tamariki and kaiako is intertwined, intentional, open-ended and generative.
In this webinar, Bridgette Towle (Director) and Shirlene Murphy (Education Manager) discuss their experiences of building a culture of inquiry. They reveal what has worked well, the challenges, and how they are continually redesigning their approach as they learn and evolve.
Bridgette Towle is the Director of Kids’ Domain and has over 25 years’ diverse experience in early years settings, from Playcentre to Montessori, alongside roles as an Expressive Arts Specialist. Joining Kids’ Domain in 2009, she has spearheaded the implementation of an inquiry-based learning approach as Pedagogical Leader. Bridgette holds a PG Dip in Educational Leadership and Management, a Masters of Education, served as a Trustee on REANZ, and co-authored Cup: A vibrant vessel of learning and creativity.
Shirlene Murphy is the Education Manager at Kids’ Domain and over the past 25 years has worked in various roles within the centre. This has given her the opportunity to continuously grow her leadership skills by working with and alongside a diverse range of kaiako and leaders over this time.