Starting school is an exciting time. We hope that the information that follows will be of assistance to you and your child in achieving a happy and smooth transition to school. If you need an enrolment form please call or email the school (03 3496553 or admin@prebbleton.school.nz). Alternatively, click this link to complete an online enrolment form: https://enrolments.linc-ed.com/apply/NZ/3478 

Please note confirmation of your enrolment will only be given by the School Secretary once all supporting documents have been received.

Pre-entry School Visits

Prebbleton School operates a cohort entry. This means our new 5 year old students will start school at either the beginning or at the halfway point within each term. We adhere to the dates determined by the Ministry of Education.

The cohort entry points for 2025 are:

Term 1: Monday 3 February and Monday 10th March

Term 2: Monday 28th April and Monday 26 May

Term 3: Monday 14th July and Monday 18th August

Term 4: Monday 6th October and Monday 10th November

Children must have had their 5th birthday before starting school at one of the entry dates, e.g. if your child turns five on 31 July, they would start school at the second cohort entry point of Term 3.

Cohort entry is about helping children to settle better in school. There is evidence that starting school alongside other children helps them build relationships and supports a smoother entry to school life. It also helps teachers to prepare for groups of children arriving on a specific date rather than on an individual and ad hoc basis throughout the year.

Pre-entry school visits are usually arranged for the two weeks prior to your child starting school. The class teacher will make contact to arrange visiting dates approximately six weeks before your child starts school.

The children will have two pre-entry visits and these are scheduled on Tuesday mornings from 9-10.30am (accompanied by caregiver), and then 9-11.15am (unaccompanied). Tamariki will need to bring a small snack for morning tea for the second visit. Uniforms are optional for these visits.

Enrolment

Prior to starting school, please ensure you have completed and returned to the office:

• The school enrolment form

• A copy of birth certificate/passport

• Immunisation certificate

• Proof of ‘in-zone’ residence (recent rates or electricity bill)

The New Entrant/Reception Class

Awa 2&3 are the New Entrant/reception classes at Prebbleton School. Our day is a balance of investigations through play-based learning, as well as structured literacy and numeracy. It is important to us that learning is interest-based and student-led. We are passionate about supporting our tamariki in having a positive and magical start to school.

Play-based Learning

Play is a vital part of every child’s development and here at Prebbleton School we have a deeply embedded philosophy of Play-Based Learning across Years 0-2. We believe that through focused, teacher-supported authentic play, tamariki are able to develop in the Key Competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum. When tamariki play they are engaged and interested in learning. It is through the free exploration of their environment that children can practice and build upon their experiences and learn about the world around them.

You will see:

• art & craft

• tinker table

• construction

• fine and gross motor development

• outdoor exploration

• science and nature exploration

• literacy and numeracy activities

• tamariki exploring their interests and passions

• explicit teaching of social skills within play

Preparing for School

How can I help my child be 'school ready'?

There are many activities that parents undertake with tamariki that have a positive effect on their development and promote school readiness.

These include:

• teaching them songs and nursery rhymes with letters and numbers

• talking with your child about the world around them and what is happening in their day

• creating regular opportunities for them to play with their friends and other children

• your child does not need to be able to read or write before they start school

It is helpful if tamariki are able to:

• Pack their own school bag

• Dress and undress themselves

• Take responsibility for their own belongings, e.g. hat, shoes

• Recognise their own name

• Share and take turns

• Voice how they are feeling

The things listed above are helpful skills for children who are beginning school. If your child is working towards some of these skills, we are here to help.

Bag Checklist:

• Reading Folder

• Lunch box with morning tea and lunch

• Water bottle

• Sunhats for Terms 1 & 4 (sunscreen not provided)

Please note that children will need a bag large enough to contain these items as well as clothing items such as sweatshirts or jackets.

Communication

We communicate through five different avenues:

1. Seesaw: a closed parent group to share photos of what’s happening in our class

2. Hero: weekly class notices are posted as well as learning goals and reporting are shared

3. Facebook (Search Prebbleton School, and Prebbleton School PTA)

4. Hail: Fortnightly school newsletter

5. School website http://www.prebbleton.school.nz/

Home Learning

After the first few weeks of school, tamariki will begin bringing home some home learning based on their needs. This may include: alphabet letters, decodable words, heart words, decodable sentences. Our focus is on learning the alphabet letter sound, e.g. m – ‘mmm’ for monkey (rather than the letter name), as well as forming the letter using the correct formation. Decodable words and sentences will be sent home once a child has strong phonological awareness, knows all of the Stage 1 sounds and can blend these sounds together to read a word. It is important that the children practise their home learning each night. This home learning has such a positive impact on their literacy progress. We would expect home learning to take approximately 10 minutes each day. 

Literacy

Prebbleton School uses a structured literacy approach to teach reading, handwriting and spelling. Structured Literacy is an evidence based approach which is grounded in the Science of Reading. In the early years we focus on developing strong phonological awareness, learning the alphabet sounds, learning heart words (everyday non-decodable sight words) and reading decodable texts.  We follow the Little Learners Love Literacy Scope & Sequence.  Phonological awareness is the ability to recognise and manipulate the spoken parts of sentences and words. This is vital when learning how to read. When tamariki are ready, they move on to decodable texts which they are able to read independently through their knowledge of sounds and heart words (every-day high frequency words). Learning to read and write is not a race, and just like tamariki learn to crawl and walk at different times, they will all learn to read and write at their own individual pace too.

Maths

Numeracy is taught in a hands-on and engaging way. We encourage tamariki to be active in their maths learning. This means there is a focus on the child actually ‘doing’ the maths, rather than the teacher always ‘telling’ the child what to do or how to do it. We provide hands-on learning through play, problem solving and inquiry learning. Mathematics is woven into investigation time through exploration and play, as well as taught explicitly each day in groups.

Tips for the First Few Days

Your child may experience a variety of emotions when starting school. Keep your expectations realistic and encourage confidence. On the first day make sure you arrive in plenty of time. The school is open for students at 8.30am. We value independence at school and suggest that you start as you mean to continue, so encourage your child to carry and unpack their own bag. Occasionally tamariki become tearful when saying their farewells but it is important that you don’t prolong the ‘leaving’. Experience has taught us that most tamariki settle within a few minutes.