New Entrant Transition to School

Nayland Primary Transition Statement 2026

Main purpose - to ensure a smooth transition between early childhood and primary school. 

Process

Step 1 – Check the Enrolment Zone
Before enrolling your child, please ensure your home address falls within the Nayland Primary School enrolment zone. Zoning helps us manage class sizes and maintain high-quality learning experiences for all students.
You can view our enrollment zone map and find full details on our school website or by contacting the school office. If you live outside the zone, you may be required to apply through our out-of-zone enrolment process.

Step 2 – Contact the School
Once you’ve confirmed your address is within our zone, please contact the school office to be added to the pre-enrolment list. We also encourage you to inform your child’s early childhood education (ECE) centre of your school choice, as we work closely with local centres to support smooth transitions.

Step 3 – Transition to School Information
Approximately six weeks before your child’s start date, a member of our team (currently Bridie Horn) will get in touch with information about our Transition to School programme and make contact with your child’s ECE centre. 

Your child’s kaiako (teacher) will receive the Capabilities Statement from their ECE teachers

They will also visit children at their learning centre (those in the Stoke region. Otherwise contact with their key teacher will be made to discuss the child).  Kaiako will liaise out of school meetings with Early Intervention agencies and whānau where appropriate.

·  Meeting with Nayland Kindy regularly to ensure a clear progression of skills and knowledge (eg Pepeha, Handwriting, Self-management)

·  Updating the Transition website https://www.naylandprimary.school.nz/enrolments/new-entrant-transition-to-school

Rise Up, Little Bird Club -

·  Children start to form positive relationships with kaiako and peers

·  Learn about school expectations

·  Become familiar with the school and class space

·  Opportunity to welcome whānau, share important information and answer any questions they have

Class visits

·  Children and parents are welcome to come for class visits prior to starting school

·  These will be booked in during the first Rise Up, Little Bird Club visit

·  Support children in understanding routines at school

·  Parents stay on site during these visits.

·  We recommend around 3 visits however this will depend on the child's needs

Our Transition Programme    Maranga Manu - Rise Up, Little Bird Club

We are excited to welcome children who will be starting school in 2026 to join our new and exciting transition programme.

This programme will run every Friday afternoon in the classroom space where students will be starting. It offers a special opportunity for new students and whānau to come together, play, and begin learning about school life alongside current students who will soon become their class peers. It is also a wonderful chance for whānau to ask questions and build connections.

Students and whānau are welcome to attend as many sessions as they like leading up to their child’s start date. 

I will personally invite them to attend the three sessions immediately prior to their child starting school.

How the programme will run

Upon arrival, visiting students will be welcomed to join a story time with the current class. After this, students are free to explore a variety of learning and play experiences both inside and outside the classroom.

The teacher who will become the next cohort's classroom teacher will be released during this time, allowing them to spend time engaging with the students and talking with whānau as they experience classroom life together.

At 2:30pm, current students will head to assembly. Visiting students and whānau are welcome to remain in the classroom space to ask questions and continue conversations.

In the three weeks leading up to children starting school, we will also take short walks around the school, exploring different areas and helping children become familiar with their new environment.

When: Every Friday @ 1.45-2.45pm

Where: Pīpipi 8a and Pūkeko 8b.

New entrant teachers Elle McManaway and Loren Richards will be leading Maranga Manu - Rise Up, Little Bird Club. 

Enrolment meetings can be booked in with Carol at the office. 

There is no pressure for whānau to attend all Maranga Manu, Rise Up, Little Bird sessions and they can choose how many class visits they would like during the three weeks leading up to their child starting school. We will explain this more during Maranga Manu - Rise Up, Little Bird sessions.

We will receive transition information and Learning Profiles from your child’s ECE Centre regarding your child’s interests, strengths, goals and achievements to help us really get to understand your child and support their smooth transition to school. This is also the time that we will make contact with any other agencies that may be supporting your child, if appropriate. 

Starting School

A typical school day

9.05 Roll, Wā Whānau, waiata

9.10 Whole class maths

9.20 - 10.15 small group math lessons (during this time children not working with the teacher will be choosing their own play based learning). 

10.15 - Big Book and morning kai (food)

10.30 - 11am Outside play

11am - 12.45 Literacy (during this time children not working with the teacher will be choosing their own play based learning). 

12.45 - 1pm Lunch Kai

1pm - 1.30 Outside play

1.30 - 1.45 story (and finish kai)

1.45 - 2.45 Other curriculum areas depending on unit focus

Room 8a and 8b

8B is the back classroom closest to the senior playground. 8A is the classroom space closest to the Library. Both classes share the middle creative & role play spaces, as well as the large outdoor play space. 

Uniform

Children wear the Nayland Primary school uniform which can be purchased from NZ Uniforms in Richmond. We also have good quality second hand uniforms available to purchase.  Please contact Carol at the office if you have any questions regarding this. Please name ALL items of clothing. 

Stationary

Starting 2026, the school will purchase the majority of school stationary and deliver it to the classroom teacher. There will be a reduced stationary list given to you during Rainbow Club or at the office. 

School lunches

Please ensure your child brings their own drink bottle and lunch to school each day. This will include at least one healthy snack for their morning kai. Please name their lunch box and drink bottle. 

School lunches can also be ordered through the KINDO app. There will be information regarding this and lunch order options in the school newsletter and Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/naylandprimary/

Class teachers - 2025

The teachers in Room 8a and 8b are Ellie McManaway 8A and Loren Richards 8B

You will be informed of your child's class closer to their start date.