Transition To School

Enrich Children’s Learning

Our aim for the Transition to School group is to ensure a smooth and successful transition into the school environment for our children and families. We aim to enrich children’s knowledge, challenge their thinking, empowering their capabilities for their next educational journey.

Our passionate, dedicated teachers help your child become familiar with experiences they’ll have at school. They support children during mat time routines, help them relate to others, to take turns and manage working in a group successfully.

Puketapu Preschool is the natural gateway for children who go on to enrol at Puketapu Primary School. The close relationship between the preschool and the primary school is a strength that enables the children to transition in a smooth and seamless manner. Children who have attended the preschool rarely have difficulty in our new entrant room or larger school environment. They come to school prepared to learn and are able and ready to participate in the full range of activities. Children are always engaged and are confident communicators with each other as well as adults. The staff are skilled and respond well to the individual need of each child. Parents are supportive, children feel secure and the staff deliver exciting and varied programmes”.

Chris Fox, Principal Puketapu School (2010-2023)

As the new entrant teacher at Puketapu School I find that the children who come from the preschool, transition to school seamlessly.

The children that come from the preschool are well prepared for school. The teachers do an amazing job through play preparing the children both physically and emotionally for school readiness. They run an exceptional programme through play that promotes fine and gross motor skills necessary for tasks such as holding a pencil when the child is ready for this at school. It is an absolute delight to visit and to see young children learning through play, supported by caring staff that foster their interests.

Puketapu Preschool staff do an excellent job of preparing children for school and I would be happy to recommend the preschool to any prospective parents.

Kim Lines, New Entrant Teacher Puketapu School (Dec 2020)

The start of Term 3 2023 Puketapu School made the transition to Cohort entry.

The Preschool visits Puketapu School on a Friday morning with the children in the next cohort entry group for an hour.

You will need to contact Puketapu School for an enrolment form and to attend their official transactional intake visits, that you will take your child/ren to before your start date.

(Please note – if you enrol at another school you will need to make contact with that school and arrange your visits that you will take your child/ren to.)

We also attend events and activities during the school year that are held at Puketapu School.

Explore, Learn, Grow