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GETTING READY FOR THE FIRST STEPS INTO PRIMARY SCHOOL
For many years in New Zealand, starting school on your 5th birthday has been a rite of passage and a tradition experience by generations of whānau!
Increasingly, however, parents are deciding to plan for a successful start in the foundational years of schooling by delaying school entry to make sure their child gets the best advantages possible!
If you are getting ready for this next step at Paroa School, then please read the following information carefully - it can make a huge difference in the success of your child as they take their first steps into Primary School education!
WHAT IS THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT?
In New Zealand children are required by law to have started school/kura by their 6th birthday and not before their 5th birthday.
That's it!
Most children start their schooling on or just after their 5th birthday, but it is not compulsory to start school in NZ until you turn 6.
At Paroa School (and most other primary schools), most students start school on or soon after their 5th birthday.
HOW CAN I CHOOSE THE BEST TIME TO START?
This is a slightly trickier question - but one that you do have some control over!
As mentioned before, most children start their schooling on or just after their 5th birthday, but it is not compulsory to start school in NZ until you turn 6. This means that you can choose a time and date to start your child that makes best sense for you, your child and your family.
The starting date can determine how much (or how little) time your child is able to stay in the early years of school.
At Paroa, for instance, here are two scenarios to consider:
✅ Scenario 1: If your child joins before May, they will be designated as a "Year 1" student and will, in the following school year, move into a Year 2 class.
In this scenario, students may not complete a whole year in the Year 1 class before moving to Year 2 - something to consider!
✅ Scenario 2: If your child joins in May or later, they will be designated as a "New Entrant" student and will, in the following school year, move into a Year 1 class - or remain in the same class (Kōhanga) for part of the year.
In this scenario, they will spend over a year working on the Year 1 curriculum, which allows more opportunity to transition gradually and experience success in their first year of school. They will also end up a little older when they graduate and move to High School - and University - something that many parents are thinking about, already!
Interested to hear what the experts say?
Recent research from Canterbury University outlines some key benefits to a longer, gradual immersion in school rather than being "fast-tracked" to Year 2.
WHO CAN I TALK TO TO HELP DECIDE?
Our first recommendation is to talk to your current early childhood education provider. You can ask them about your child's progress and their "readiness for school". They may have some valuable insights to share!
Next, reach out and speak to our school team! We are happy to talk to you anytime when you are getting ready to make the decision.
We ask that families who are considering enrolling with us get in contact early (at least six months in advance, if possible) so that we can plan for our classes and staffing needs, as well as get ready for any transition visits - a vital part of a successful move into any primary school.
Paroa School operates an enrolment zone, so letting us know early also helps us make decisions about potential spaces that we can make available to whānau outside of our school zone.
I'VE ENROLLED - WHAT'S NEXT?
The New Entrant teacher will contact you approximately 4 weeks before your child’s start date to arrange a time for you and your child to come in for a New Entrant Whānau Connect meeting. This meeting is an opportunity for us to get to meet you and your child before they start school. You will find out more about the class and programme. We will ensure you have all the information regarding uniforms and stationery.
You can also check out this pamphlet which has some ideas put together by our local schools to help parents get ready for the next steps into life and learning in primary school!
PAROA SCHOOL ENROLMENT ZONE
In recent years, Paroa has been growing as a community and as a school. In anticipation of future development and the needs of a growing community, and to avoid overcrowding, or the likelihood of overcrowding, the Board of Trustees has implemented an enrolment scheme that has been developed by the Secretary for Education. Under this scheme, students will be enrolled if they live within the home zone.
The enrolment zone came into effect on 20 August 2024.
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