School offering alternative learning searching for a home

A new school centered on social and emotional learning is delaying its opening as it struggles to find a home.

Aroha Discovery currently runs day and holiday programmes but founder Anne-Marie Richards says they need a permanent home to make the school a reality.

The school currently runs a ‘Nature Day’ course every Tuesday along with holiday programmes in the school breaks modelled on a democratic education model.

Democratic education is where children are free to play and are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and behavior.

“We want our kids to have autonomy and to be confident. There’s a lot of learning in play that we don’t often recognize,” Anne-Marie says.

‘Nature Day’ facilitator Anne Bieleski sees the model as the future of learning.

“I think there are particular kids who don’t fit into mainstream school and it doesn’t suit them. Instead of disciplining them they get distracted, we facilitate that curiosity, and they learn from it.”

Anne-Marie says the dream has always been to open a full-time school for ages five to 13 but without a venue they can’t apply for school status from the Ministry of Education.

Aroha Discovery is currently operating out of Fairfield House but as it is a shared community venue, the alternative learning group is looking for a new home.

“We’ve got the interest; we have a family who won’t be moving to Nelson unless we’re able to open the school,” says Anne-Marie.

She says they’re also in need of sponsorship to get up and running.

“We’d have to open as a private school, and we wouldn’t receive any funding until after a year of running. We want to make this type of learning as accessible and affordable as possible.”

Aroha Discovery will be running their holiday program from January, you can find more information about the school at https://arohadiscovery.school.nz/?v=6c15795b4db3