Educare supports tamariki to feel welcomed, accepted and able to learn and grow in an environment that is warm, trusting, stimulating and offers opportunities for children to experience success.

Enrolment forms along with routine forms are completed and handed in prior to the child’s first day. Any access restrictions, medical conditions/allergies will be discussed at this point. Whānau will be asked to provide as much information as possible about the child as this information will assist kaiako during the transition process.

A starting date along with opportunities for whānau to visit with their child will be confirmed at the time of enrolment. Each child and their whānau are treated individually around scheduling the amount of settling visits required. 

Kaiako will be available to settle the child when the whānau member says goodbye. The expectation is that the child will be told goodbye by the whānau member and that reassurance is given that they will return.

All tamariki and their whānau will be welcomed on arrival and farewelled at the end of the day. Kaiako will greet the whānau and tamariki/tamaiti by name.

If a parent/caregiver has any concerns about leaving their child, they are more than welcome to have a discussion with kaiako or the Centre Manager.

Whānau will be contacted and asked to return to the centre if their child is overly distressed. We expect and understand that some children can take longer to settle than others.

Whānau are encouraged to phone the centre at any time convenient to them to check on their child’s progress.

To retain positive feelings over a time of transition there needs to be clear communication between the management, teachers, parents, whānau and individual children to provide a seamless transition.

Each centre will have a kaiako who takes overall responsibility for the transition to school process and a contact person for the Primary Schools they feed into, in order to build a relationship that exchanges information and informs each other of current events. 

Whānau will be approached when their child turns 4 years old to discuss their decision regarding the choice of school for their child. At this time, an Educare transition to school pamphlet will be given.  Whānau will have good support and information in order to transition their child seamlessly into primary school. Specific cultural needs and requirements will be taken into consideration. 

There will be information available to whānau regarding how to contact the schools and access Education Review Office (ERO) reports. 
Information regarding local schools will be displayed in the centre, by way of a transition to school display that incorporates students past and present, current events, etc. 

From the age of 4 years a transition to school section in portfolio will be developed for each child. This will include learning stories, examples of the child’s work and photos. The Learning Stories will have links to both Te Whāriki and the New Zealand Primary School Curriculum. The Portfolio can be shared with the primary school teacher on school visits, with whānau permission. 

One transition to school whānau evening will take place annually. Teachers from local schools will be invited to speak at these.