Our Enrolment Policy outlines the procedures we have in place for children turning five during the year and starting school as New Entrants, as well as for children starting during the year from other schools.
The four main transition activities for new five year olds include:
During the enrolment process we will email you the specific details with times and dates for attending the four year old programme and the parent information session times each term. We will contact you again a month before your child's starting date to organise early child care centre and school visits.
We welcome new students from other schools or who are new to NZ at any time, so long as they live within our zone. For International Students wishing to study at Amesbury, please see our International Student section.
New students and parents are welcome to spend a session visiting the hub prior to starting with us. This is a good opportunity for meeting the teachers and other children and familiarising themselves with the physical environment. During the enrolment process we will contact you to see if you would like a school visit and to organise a time that suits, prior to having their first day at Amesbury School.
Enrol your child
Receive an email confirming the enrolment and transition to school information
Attend Four Year Old Programme
Organise school visits and Early Childcare Centre Visits
School Visits and Early Childcare Centre Visits
New Families Information Session
First Day of School
Catch up with the child's whānau teacher
Anytime
Shortly after submitting your enrolment
One or two terms prior to starting school
We will email you four school weeks prior to their starting date to arrange visits
These take place two school weeks prior to starting date
Attend this session just prior or just after your child starts school, whichever is closest
You may decide which day, on or after their fifth birthday.
Approximately four weeks after starting school
Our Four Year Old Programme runs for 45 minutes most weeks of the term. The specific times may vary each term.
Children who are enrolled and are four years of age are invited to join other new entrant children for a period of activities. Our junior hub teachers take turns in delivering a session of fun activities. Children get to know the teachers, other students, orientate themselves to the physical environment and begin to build relationships in the school setting. Parents also get to know one another and can chat with the teachers with any questions they may have. If you interested attending these sessions this can be anytime from 1-2 terms (6 months) prior to your child starting school.
Families may attend any week and there is no need to RSVP or apologise if you cannot make it. Come along, sign in at the office where a teacher will meet you.
Become familiar with our school environment and equipment, meet the teachers and other children. Make new friends!
In general we hold our four year old programme sessions for 8 weeks each term. This is usually from Week 2 to Week 9 with some changes from time to time. As these times are arranged well in advance, dates or times may need to be changed or cancelled. When possible, we will inform you of any changes, however, we recommend you regularly check this calendar to confirm dates each week.
Any week you wish to attend just sign in at the office, where one of our teaching team will meet you. As part of a Ministry requirement we ask that parents stay on site during these visits. Don’t forget to sign out when you leave.
Click on the agenda tab to see a list view.
These sessions are held once per term. We explain our learning programmes, how you can help at home, how children learn to read and write, expectations; and, we show you how to follow all our online resources such as accessing our planning online. Parents of new students - whether they have recently started or are soon to start - are welcome to attend the session closest to the date their child is due to start school. Most parents find it useful to attend a session before their child starts and after they have started which makes everything fall into place more easily.
In general we hold these sessions early each term. As these dates are planned in advance, please check the transition calendar above for any changes that are required. When possible we will email you to let you know the dates prior to the sessions each term.
Dates for 2024:
Term 1 - 4.30-6pm Friday 2 February
Term 2 - 4-4.45pm Monday 29 April
Term 3 - 3.30-4pm Friday 26 July
All uniforms must be purchased through our online shop. We recommend that uniforms are ordered at least one month prior to your child starting school (you can make an appointment for uniform fittings with the school office). Although we carry some stock, this will allow sufficient time for items to be delivered if we need to order them in for you. Further information on uniform items required can be viewed here.
If you would like to find out more about the costs associated with starting school, you can follow this link.
For further information about transition to school, contact John (enrol@amesbury.school.nz) or phone the school on 04-477 3423.
