The Clinic

The Clinic was established in May 2012 by four parents of children at Ngaio School. It was initially operated out of the school’s old dental clinic (hence the name!), which is nearest the Colway St entrance, and now called Room 18.

Our kaupapa now has a strong focus on free play, in recognition of the overwhelming
research that suggests that children of all ages need regular access to a wide range of
play opportunities. We value giving children time, space and agency, allowing them as
far as possible to choose how to use the resources that we provide in their own way.

Additionally, we support parents to run tailored sessions with our tamariki, exploring
and sharing particular areas of interest. Topics are chosen based on the expertise in our
community and in conjunction with requests from the children. Initially the four project
team members and many of the Clinic volunteers had an expertise and interest in
science and this is what many of the early sessions were based on.

In 2023 we ran 16 lunchtime sessions, with highlights including:
· An electronics session, with Tui kids using real tools and their incredible problem
solving minds to take apart appliances donated by Trash Palace
· A bubbles session where we saw perseverance and determination, exploration of
materials and socio-emotional development with sharing and turn-taking with resources· Amazing creativity and invention in our recycling crafts and box fort sessions.
· Joy! So much joy, in our water play sessions for students across the school

As part of our important play kaupapa, we have sourced a full set of mud-kitchen
equipment – think pots, pans, whisks and ladles – these have been well used in nature
play, water and bubbles sessions for students across the school, and will be a much loved
resource for many years to come.

This year we have also supported parent volunteers to run small group sessions making
and cooking bao buns, as well as orienteering sessions, learning to navigate around the
school using a custom-made map (which you will now see displayed in the school
office!).

We have collected a shed full of recycled/reused ‘large loose parts’ which the children
have loved to explore and create with at our loose parts sessions. These include, coffee
sacks, pipes and guttering sections, pool noodles, milk crates, pallets, fabric and ropes.
Lots of these items are sourced from the Tip Shop and Trash Palace, saving items from
landfill – we are always looking to add to our collection so get in touch if you have (clean,
safe) junk to donate!

Loose parts create richer environments for children to play, giving them the resources they
need to extend their play. Loose parts aren’t prescriptive and offer limitless possibilities. A
stick, for example, may become a fishing rod near real or imaginary water, a spoon in a
mud kitchen, a tool to nudge a football that is stuck in a tree; it can be thrown, floated,
snapped, pinged, bent, hidden, added to a pile, burnt, tied to something else, split,
catapulted or discarded…

Children need environments they can manipulate and where they can invent, construct,
evaluate and modify their own constructions and ideas through play.

From Resources for playing – providing loose parts to support children’s play: A
toolkit published by Play Wales, 2017

If you want to know more about Loose Parts Play, you can read more here.

You can find more information regarding the Clinic on our Clinic Facebook page.

If you have a particular skill, interest or passion, come and share it with our
tamariki at the Clinic – get in touch with Becky on theclinic@ngaio.school.nz.
We can help with providing resources and equipment, and volunteers to help
out at your session.

Alternatively, lots of general helpers are always needed on sessions (no
experience required!). We run a WhatsApp group where session details are
shared and if you’re free to help you’ll be welcomed along – no commitment,
no pressure!

Email us at theclinic@ngaio.school.nz