Your child at school
- Choosing a school
- Enrolling and starting your child at school
- Cohort entry
- Making sure your child attends school every day
- Things to know about your child's teacher
- Moving on from primary school
- Stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions, expulsions
- School transport assistance
- Using physical restraint in schools
- Boarding allowances
Choosing a school
Many children have the option of one local school to go to. If you do have more options, then choosing the right school or kura for your child is important and can make a big difference to their happiness and wellbeing, as well as how well they do at school.
Enrolling and starting your child at school
Your child can start school or kura in New Zealand between age 5 and 6. All children must be enrolled at school by their sixth birthday.
Cohort entry
Cohort entry is when new entrants start school in groups through the year rather than on their fifth birthday.
Making sure your child attends school every day
Going to school every day is really important if children are to achieve and succeed. As parents and carers, it's up to you to make sure your child attends school every day, from when they first start school until they are 16.
Things to know about your child's teacher
A teacher must have a current practising certificate. This shows they are suitably trained and meet the appropriate standards to be a teacher.
Moving on from primary school
Your child might stay at primary school until the end of year 8, or you might enrol them into an intermediate school for years 7 and 8. For year 9, they will need to be enrolled in a secondary school.
Stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions, expulsions
If your child is stood down or suspended from a state school, state-integrated school, or kura find out what to do next and where to go to get advice and support.
School transport assistance
The Ministry provides school transport assistance to help parents overcome barriers to education and meet their responsibility to get their children to school. The Ministry may provide assistance where distance and/or accessibility may be a barrier for students attending the closest school they can enrol at. Find out if your child is eligible for school transport assistance.
Using physical restraint in schools
Schools are required to notify, monitor and report on the use of physical restraint.
Boarding allowances
If your child is struggling to attend school and achieve NCEA level 2 or above because they live too far away from school or face other difficulties in their life, you can apply for funding so that they can board away from home and focus on their studies.