Enrolment Overview
Enrolling Your 5 Year Old
For parents of preschoolers, you can assist with our classroom planning by letting us know well ahead of time that your children will be attending our school. For example, if you have a 3 or 4 year old, please give us a call and we will place them on our list of anticipated enrolments, you must reside within our school zone for this.
We would appreciate you completing the online enrolment approximately 10-15 weeks prior to your child’s 5th birthday. Our office staff will then organise your pre-school visits and let you know all of the other necessary information you will need as a parent. The junior team welcomes prospective students and their parents to the school, and the teachers in that team make it their mission to know you and your child in order to work together to prepare your child to be a 21st century learner.
Enrolling Older Children
If your children are transferring to us from another school, please complete the enrolment process at least one week before you would like them to start.
We encourage a school visit for all new families alongside their children prior to starting school. It would also be helpful to us when placing your child if you could provide a recent school report from their previous school.
Once we have all the documentation in place and you have purchased uniforms, the children will be able to start at our school.
What you need when enrolling
Proof of Address (Compulsory)
Enrolment will not be accepted without proof that you reside within our school zone.
This must be in the form of a current power bill that clearly shows your name and address, or a brand new tenancy agreement.
Enrolment will not be accepted if your proof of address does not meet requirement, so please make sure you have the correct proof before proceeding with enrolment.
Proof of Identity (Compulsory)
All children attending need verification of identity. The documents we can accept are:
- NZ Birth Certificate
- NZ or Australian Passport
- NZ Citizenship Certificate
An overseas Passport as well as proof of Eligibility to Study in NZ (Compulsory). Eligibility to study needs to be either a Student Visa, Residency Visa or a Citizenship Certificate for the student. Visitor Visas do not give a child eligibility to study in NZ. If you need clarification around eligibility please phone the school office.
School Report
If your child is transferring from another school in NZ it would be helpful if you could attach a transfer form or a recent school report from their previous school.
This is not compulsory to enrol.
Immunisation
A plunket book or immunisation certificate. If you are arriving from overseas we do need your immunisation records verified by a NZ doctor to show it is in line with our NZ immunisation schedule.
We can not accept overseas immunisation records. A list of vaccinations received does not equate to a vaccination certificate so please ask your doctor to provide evidence if your child is fully vaccinated / partially vaccinated and to which age.
This is not compulsory to attend.
Cohort Entry
What are the benefits of Cohort Entry?
In short, cohort entry helps children settle into school life and routines better.
The Education Review Office found the following benefits of Cohort Entry:
- Supports the emotional well-being of young children as they start school in groups, sometimes with friends from early learning. For some children, this meant they felt like they belonged at school, were less anxious, and settled quickly into school routines.
- Supports learning for new children as teachers can teach without the constant interruption of new students arriving any time during the year.
- Helps whÄnau connect with other whÄnau and the school as school visits and activities can be scheduled so parents can come together in groups.
- Helps schools to plan children’s transitions from early childhood to school, making the experience better for children and whÄnau.
At PÄpÄmoa Primary School, we are committed to ensuring children have the best possible start to school life and experience a positive transition from Early Childhood Education (ECE).
The early years at school are so important and for this reason, we use a cohort entry approach.
What is cohort entry?
Cohort entry is when new entrant children start school in groups throughout the year rather than on their fifth birthday. The Ministry of Education and Education Review Office are encouraging schools to take this approach.
How does cohort entry work?
New entrants start school in cohorts but only after they have turned five.
There are two entry points per term, one on the first day of term, and one at a mid-point during a term (usually the Monday of the 6th week).
Enrolment Zone
All students who permanently reside within the school zone (as per the zone map below) have the automatic right to attend PÄpÄmoa Primary School. This is determined on the sighting of proof of your residentail address (a brand new copy of your tenancy agreement or a power bill). All documents must be current and dated within the month of your child starting school.
It is important to note that enrolment does not commence until the day your child starts school.
Out of Zone Enrolment
We are not currently accepting any Out of Zone Enrolments for 2024 or 2025.
Each year the Board of Trustees will determine the number of places which are likely to be available in the following year for the enrolment of students who live outside the home zone. The Board will publish this information by notice in a daily or community newspaper circulating in the area served by the school. The notice will indicate how applications are to be made and will specify a date by which all applications must be received.
Applications for enrolments will be processed in the following order of priority:
- First priority must be given to students who have been accepted for enrolment in the above special programme(s) run by the school and approved by the Secretary for Education.
- Second priority must be given to applicants who are siblings of current students.
- Third priority must be given to applicants who are siblings of former students.
- Fourth priority must be given to any applicant who is a child of a former student of the school.
- Fifth priority must be given to any applicant who is either a child of an employee of the board of the school or a child of a member of the board of the school.
- Sixth priority must be given to all other applicants.
If there are more applicants in the second, third, fourth, or fifth priority groups than there are places available, selection within the priority group will be by ballot conducted in accordance with instructions by the Secretary under Schedule 20 (2) of the Education and Training Act 2020. Parents will be informed of the date of any ballot by public notice in a medium appropriate to the area served by the school.
Applicants seeking second or third priority status may be required to give proof of a sibling relationship.
Proof of residence within the home zone may be required.
Out of Zone Expression of Interest
Enrolment Forms
Enrolment at Pāpāmoa Primary is completed via the online forms below.
If you need any support with enrolment, please get in touch with the school office. Contact details can be found here.
Online Enrolment
The following two forms must be completed, and all relevant documentation must be supplied before enrolment can be accepted.
Please read the information carefully regarding the documentation required for enrolment before completing.
If you do not supply the relevant documents or complete all required forms, this will result in a delay in processing your child's enrolment and delay their start date at school.
Please click the following links to be taken to separate pages to complete the TWO required forms.
