New Entrant Information

When Should I Enrol My Child to Go to School?

Your child can start school or kura in New Zealand between the ages of five and six. All children must be enrolled at school by their sixth birthday.

When your child has started at school or kura, they must go to school every day. This is a change from the earlier rule, where regular attendance was required only from age six.

Enrolling early helps us with our planning. As soon you have checked you are in our zone, get in touch with us to enrol your child.

Parents are welcome to have a meeting with one of our Senior Management team and a guided tour of the school. An appointment may be made through the office at 325-2571 or admin@lincolnprimary.ac.nz.

Cohort Entry

New entrants will start in groups throughout the year, up until they turn six. After a child turns 5, their school start date is the first day of the next cohort entry date.

Please see click here for more information on Cohort Entry.

How do I Enrol My Child? What paperwork do I need to provide?

Once you have checked your usual place of residence is within our school zone, you can complete our online enrolment form. The School Office will then be in touch to request the necessary documents to confirm the enrolment. You will then be sent further information about starting school with us including the date and time for your cohort pre-entry visit and parent information meeting. We will also contact you about a time to come in for a tour and a meeting with the Principal approximately 4-6 weeks out from the child's start date.

Documents for Enrolling:

• a copy of your child’s birth certificate 

• For children not born in NZ - visas and passports for students and parents

• a copy proof of address document - a rental/tenancy or sales agreement or rates account

• a copy of their immunisation certificate (this is in your Well Child book or ask your family doctor for a copy)

• medical information including your doctor’s contact details

• any legal documents, for example, custody or access agreements the school should know about

• contact details: your family phone numbers and address and someone the school or kura can call in an emergency if they can’t get hold of you.

Order a New Zealand Birth Certificate online (external link)

Privacy Guidelines

How can I Help my Child Get Ready for School?

There are lots of things you can do.

Here are some ideas to help your child become familiar with the school or kura:

• visit the school or kura with your child
• get the principal and teacher to meet your child
• arrange some settling in visits with their teacher before their first day
• have a play at the school in the weekend - run around, climb on the playground equipment, kick a ball on the field
• walk/ride the route to school. 
• ensure adequate rest
• try a school lunch at home
• read to your child
• encourage a love of stories

Talk to the Teacher About Your Child

When teachers know children well they are better able to support their learning. Talk to the teacher and let them know things like:

• if your child has any special health needs, and what to do
• what your child likes to do, what they are good at and what makes them happy
• after-school plans and who picks up your child when you can’t
• anything that might affect how your child is feeling.

The teacher might also appreciate you sharing your child's portfolio or profile book from their ECE service or Kōhanga Reo. This will give the teacher valuable information about your child's learning, and can also link up your child's early childhood, home and school or kura experiences.

Teach Your Child the Practical Skills They'll Need:

Before your child starts school, it's helpful if they can:

• blow their nose
  
• unpack and hang up their bags where they are told
• recognise when they are thirsty and get a drink of water
• ask for things they need.
• do up their shoes
• put on and take off their coats
• encourage care for property – especially books, toys, and clothing 
  
• knowing their home address and telephone number
• being independent at the toilet.
• washing and drying hands and flushing the toilet unaided.
• putting away things when not using them.
• using a handkerchief and keeping one.
• able to unwrap their lunch
• removing and putting on coats, jackets and jerseys.
• sharing with other children and taking turns
• good manners and consideration for others
• playing without hands on others

Help Them Get Ready to Learn

They may find it easier to participate in the class if they:

• can sit on a chair at a table for a short time to complete an activity
• are comfortable being away from you
• know how to take turns, and wait for things
• know the names of colours
• know the letters of the alphabet
• know the numbers 1 to 9
• can hold a pencil correctly and use scissors
• can write their name
• are able to hold a picture book and turn the pages carefully.
• Knowing their home address and telephone number 
  
• Sitting and listening to a story
• holding scissors and using them safely

Checklists for starting school and getting settled:

Starting school or kura for the first time or beginning a new school is a new and exciting stage for all the family. These checklists cover some of the important things to help the first days run smoothly. They are also useful for settling your child in at the start of each new school year.

In your child’s school bag

• Lunch and a water bottle. Get your child to help you pack their lunchbox. Talk about what is for morning tea and what is for lunch.
• Pencils, exercise books, and other supplies the school has asked your child to bring. Some schools and kura provide a list before school starts, and others will give you a list in the first week.
• In the spring and summer terms, a sun hat and sunblock (it's a good idea to apply sunblock at home before they leave as well).
• In the autumn and winter terms, a warm hat and some extra layers in case it gets really cold.
• Their name on everything particularly hats, shoes and sweatshirts. Show your child where to look for their name on their clothes.
• A change of clothes. This can be reassuring for a child starting school or kura for the first time, especially if they are prone to toileting accidents.
• Reading Folder

In the morning, before you leave

• Get up early so that you have plenty of time to get ready and your child doesn't feel rushed and stressed.
• Have a nutritious breakfast.
• Allow plenty of time for getting to school or kura. On the way chat about what they think their day will be like and what they want to do when they get home.

When you get to school

• Go into the classroom and say hello or kia ora to the teacher with your child.
• Tell the teacher about after school arrangements if you won't be the person picking your child up - although it can help them settle in quicker if you can pick them up for the first few times.
• Show or remind your child where the toilets are and any other place it is important to know about, such as where they will be collected at the end of the day.
• It helps children to feel they belong if they know other children. Make a point of stopping to chat with children and parents and/or carers you know as you arrive.
• Make goodbyes short. Teachers have a lot of experience helping children to settle in and managing an upset child.

After School

• If you pick up your child ask the teacher how their day went.
• Expect your child to be very tired in the first few weeks. Make time when you get home to just hang out. They might need to run around outside, chill out on a bean bag with some picture books, or just collapse in front of the TV.
• Don't schedule lots of afternoon activities to begin with - let them just get used to their new routines first.
• Offer them a nutritious afternoon tea. They will probably be very hungry!
• Let them adjust to being at home before asking too much about their day. It's a lot easier to get children of any age to talk about their day when they are doing something else with you – helping to make dinner, tidying up, or drying the dishes.
• Have a space where school papers go – this is the beginning of you being inundated with newsletters, permission slips, parent help requests etc. It's useful to make the space close to a calendar so you can write in important dates.
• Make time to read together. We will provide a reading book after they have settled. Get in the habit of having some shared reading every day, right from the start. This should be fun sharing and learning.