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In New Zealand, children may start school once they turn five, though school attendance is legally required from age six, allowing families flexibility if a child needs extra time in Early Childhood Education (ECE). However, once enrolled, regular daily attendance is vital.At Birkenhead Primary School, we welcome five-year-olds through small cohort entries, ensuring a smooth, supportive, and gentle transition into primary school life.
Cohort entry means that children who have recently turned five begin school together in small groups. At Birkenhead Primary School there are two cohort entries per term, one at the beginning of term, the other midway through the term. Children can remain at ECE until their intake just after their fifth birthday - they will continue to receive funding to attend ECE until they start school. Details of your child’s start date/cohort will be provided when you complete the enrolment process.
Research has shown that starting school in a small group rather than individually helps children build relationships with their peers, reducing any anxiety children may face when joining a bigger pre-established group.
The system is also less disruptive for the teacher and for all children. This system means we do not have children entering school in an adhoc fashion throughout the year, allowing groups of children to settle into school and establish routines collectively. At Birkenhead Primary School each cohort of children begin school in the Reception Room.
Ministry guidelines suggest children born before 31st June can be classified as Year 1 when they start school and anyone born after this date would be classified as Year 0. At Birkenhead Primary School we classify children born before 30th April as Year 1 and any child born after this date are classified as Year 0. If a child is born before 30th April and their cohort entry date is after this date, or a parent chooses to start their child at a later date, they are still classified as Year 1.
In special circumstances we may consider altering a child's classified year level. Decisions regarding year levels in these circumstances are discussed with whānau to ensure the best decision is made for the child. The ultimate decision is made by the school based on the evidence in school.
Learning through provocations allows children opportunities to explore, experiment, discover and solve problems in an imaginative and collaborative manner. This approach allows learners to develop student agency and feel empowered and in control of their learning journey. As children engage in provocations they refine many intellectual skills, they develop their thinking and language skills, along with their social and emotional skills.
All New Entrant children who are enrolled at Birkenhead Primary School are invited to three morning visits, from 9.00-10.00 am with their teacher. During these visits the children get to meet the other children in their cohort, begin to familiarise themselves with the classroom, morning routines and their teacher, supporting a smooth transition into school. On the third visit parents as a group will meet with a member of SLT to discuss routines and general school information. This is also a time for you to ask any questions you may have.
The outline for the visits are as follows:
- First visit: parents are welcome to stay with their child.
- Second visit: parents are encouraged to leave their child in the classroom.
- Third visit: parents meet with SLT and children spend time in the classroom.
On any visit, parents are welcome to stay in the classroom to support their child.
You will be able to meet your child’s class teacher during the Thursday visit sessions. Once your child has started you are welcome to bring your child into the classroom every day and chat with the teacher. If you require a more formal or longer meeting, please speak to the teacher to make a time that suits you both.
On your child’s first day of school you are encouraged to bring them to their classroom between 8:30am and 8:50am to help them settle into their new space and to meet the teacher. On this day we will hold a whakatau at 9.00am to welcome new children and families into the school. The whakatau is a traditional Māori welcome, which is less formal than a pōwhiri. This is generally held in the school hall and is followed by light refreshments before the children return to their classroom. The whakatau usually runs for 15 minutes and we welcome any family members who would like the opportunity to speak.
8:50 am School starts 8:55 - 9:15 Whole school Whānau fitness 9:15 - 10:30 Leaning Block 110:30 - 10:50 Morning tea play time 10:50 - 11:00 Morning tea eating time 11:00 - 12:10 Learning Block 2 12:10 - 12:40 Lunch play time 12:40 - 12:50 Lunch eating time 12:50 - 1:45 Learning Block 3 1:45 - 2:00 Afternoon play 2:00 - 3:00 Learning Block 43:00 pm Home time
After four/five weeks in school you will receive a learning story via Hero, explaining how your child has settled into school. Your child's kaitiaki teacher is also available to talk about your child’s learning and transition into school.
Depending on when your child starts school we have termly opportunities to meet with your child’s kaitiaki teacher and / or be informed about your child’s learning:
Term 1: Whānaungatanga day - individual session prior to the start of the school year to establish the home- school partnership. We will also host an open classroom afternoon midway through the term.
Term 2: Parent Teacher conferences - these are held after school between the teacher and whānau in Term 2 and Term 4.
Term 3: Open Classroom session - whānau are invited into the classroom to talk about their child’s learning, this is a time for your child to share their learning with you.
Term 4: Meet the teacher - Your child will meet with their next year's teacher.
All assessment data can be found on your child's HERO portal.
At BPS we followed a Structured Literacy approach. Children will be provided with simple spellings that follow a set pattern weekly to learn at home, complimenting what they are learning in class. They will also receive one book a week to read with you based on this learning. Language is incredibly important so we also encourage you to share stories, play games together and engage in conversation.
It is important your child has enough energy to last the day. We promote healthy food and drink options in school. Sandwiches, fruit and vegetables are all great brain food for your child. If your child brings big pieces of fruit in for morning tea or ‘FAVE’ it is helpful if it is peeled/cut up. We also encourage your children to bring a water bottle that is refilled daily with fresh water.
The Board recently completed a survey about uniform.We would like to thank everyone for their feedback during our consultation on the option of a compulsory school uniform. With such a large percentage of caregivers providing feedback, it has enabled the Board to make an informed decision about the community view. Having reviewed the numbers and the comments, we have decided to update our uniform policy to reflect the key items below.- the uniform will not be made compulsory.- students will need to wear their school shirt (and hat if in term 1 or 4) on allschool trips and when representing the school.- the type of pants they wear with their school shirt remains shorts /leggings / skirt / pants (with a preference for navy/black)- The students will be strongly encouraged to wear their school t-shirts on aFriday.This means that families will need to purchase a school t-shirt as a minimum. Allstudents, when they start at BPS, will be given a school hat as a welcome gift.We encourage everyone to embrace the uniform. We understand that parents value the ‘option’ of the uniform and we think this policy represents a good balance for our school.
Please ensure that you have informed us of any issues when you complete the enrolment form and provide any information you have to the school office. Please talk about medications/implications with the teacher, and bring any medications to the office so that they can be stored safely. If, at any time throughout the year, your contact details change or medical issues require updating, please contact the office immediately.
FAQ's
By regulation children are required to attend school unless prevented by illness or some special family circumstance. Please advise the school of any non-attendance by:
1. Through the HERO app
2. Email to absence@bps.school.nz
3. Drop in to the Office
4. Phone the school - 480 7365 - OPT 1.
Please leave a message by 8:45am. If we are not advised of absences, we will send a text via text stream. This system is a safeguard for your children.
Our current bell times and timetable are:
8.50 am - School starts
8:55 - Whole school Whānau fitness
9:15 - Leaning Block 1 - With a FAVE break
10:30 - Morning tea play time
10:50 - Morning tea eating time
11:00 - Learning Block 2
12:10 - Lunch play time
12:40 - Lunch eating time
12:50 - Learning Block 3
1:45 - Afternoon play
2:00 - Learning Block 4
3:00 - End of school day
Our children are treated at the Cluster Clinic. This is located on the school site, but is not part of the school. The entrance gate to the clinic is located next to the lower gateway to the school, near the Warehouse loading bay. Birkenhead Primary children are escorted from class to the clinic, and returned to the school gateway. Contact number is 09-418-0043.
Parents are requested to donate to the school to assist the school with its running expenses, and for school activities for the children - trips, visits, events etc. We really appreciate the donations make as it allows us to run programmes and provide opportunities to children and whānau that would not be possible based solely on government funding.
Children are required to wear the school bucket hat during Terms 1 and 4. We like children to be able to express themselves - children are able to wear whatever clothing they like as long as it allows them to be active and does not interrupt their learning. We do ask that whānau please purchase their child's whānau shirt so that every student can actively participate in school events with a strong sense of identity, connection, and whanaungatanga (belonging).
Legally, children are entitled to start school at the age of five, but do not have to start until they are six years of age. At BPS we operate cohort entry so child can start in the next cohort once they have turned 5. We must see the child’s birth certificate (for New Entrant children), immunisation record, and proof of address at enrolment. Please feel welcome to arrange school visits or see the school principal before your child formally starts school. To support a smooth and positive transition for our new entrants, we encourage children and whānau to attend our pre-entry visits. These visits help children become familiar with their teacher, classroom, and school environment.
For out-of-zone children, an application form must be filled in. Places will be balloted if there are too few places available. Please advise any change of address or phone number for emergency purposes.
Children require a nourishing lunch which will keep them focused for the school day. For FAVE (see bell times) children need a piece of fruit or vegetable that they can eat in five minutes. Children may have a water bottle in class. - these are stored in a sensible location which is easily accessible. To keep all of our students safe, especially those with severe allergies, please refrain from bringing outside food to share with your child's class for birthdays or special occasions.
Minor Injuries: Staff members handle basic first aid at school.Emergencies: In a medical emergency, we will take your child to the nearest doctor or hospital/call ambulance and contact you immediately.Moderate Illness/Injury: For less severe concerns, we will reach out to parents or guardians as soon as possible.
To ensure we can reach you quickly, please keep your contact details including phone numbers, workplace contacts, emergency contacts, and home address up to date with the office. Please also inform us of any ongoing medical conditions or health needs.If your child wakes up feeling unwell, please keep them home to rest and recover. We do not have the facilities or staff to nurse sick children during the day, and home is always the best place to recover.Head lice occasionally affect school communities. We strongly encourage whānau to check their child’s hair weekly to help prevent them from spreading.All five-year-olds undergo routine vision and hearing screening shortly after starting school. We will inform you ahead of time if you wish to be present during the check.
The school library is the major resource centre of the school to which all pupils have access. Please assist us in the care of the library by seeing that books brought home are cared for and not damaged or lost. Please ensure that library books are returned on time. Books damaged or lost will be charged at the value of the replacement.
All lost property found on school grounds is stored in the container outside the library. Named items like clothing, shoes, and lunchboxes are returned directly to students - please help us minimise lost property by labelling all belongings. Towards the end of each term, unclaimed items will be put on display before being discarded or donated at the end of term.
We are always happy to support students with the phone in urgent situations. However, to help children build responsibility and keep office lines free, school phones cannot be used to organise playdates. We ask that all social visits and after-school plans be arranged at home before the school day begins.
Andy Dwyer is our school’s music teacher, bringing energy and rhythm! He directs lunchtime band sessions and leads opt-in ukulele groups for students eager to strum along.Whether you already play an instrument or are picking one up for the first time, all students are warmly invited to join.
Class, individual and sibling photos are taken each year in July by Photo Life, and are then available for you to purchase online.
We maintain a comprehensive reporting program to keep you fully connected with your child’s progress and learning journey:Whānaungatanga Day (Start of Year): Held before the school year begins, offering a dedicated space to meet your child’s kaitiaki teacher.Hero Learning Portal: Provides ongoing, real-time updates on your child's achievements and learning goals across core curriculum areas.Learning Stories: Every student receives two Learning Stories per year—one focused on Literacy and one on Maths. These capture a snapshot of learning in action and outline next steps, home support ideas, and key learning dispositions.Parent Conferences (Term 2 and 4): One-on-one meetings to discuss your child’s growth, strengths, and goals.Open Classrooms: An invitation to step into the classroom and celebrate the work your child has created.We welcome open communication at any time. If you wish to discuss your child’s progress during the year, please feel free to email their teacher to arrange an appointment.
Pedestrian Safety: Please talk to your child about road safety, especially how to safely use the pedestrian crossings between home and school. Remind them to always stop and look both ways before stepping onto a crossing.Keep Patrol Lines Clear: If dropping off or picking up by car, please do not park outside the school entrances. Our road patrols need an uninterrupted view of traffic to keep students safe.Drop-Off & Parking: Please use the drop-off zone in the Mokoia Road carpark for quick and safe vehicle drop-offs. Please note that parent parking is not permitted on school grounds for drop-off or collection.
Students are welcome to scooter to school! For safety, please ensure your child always wears a helmet and, if joining the Walking School Bus, stays safely behind the WSB driver. During the school day, students should park their scooters in the designated spots provided in the school grounds.
Our school provides diverse sporting opportunities through interschool competitions and KiwiSports programs. We work closely with community sports clubs to support weekend student participation. Parents are strongly encouraged to get involved, as your support helps maximise student participation. Please note that full school uniform must be worn at all sports events when representing the school.
The school office will inform you of the correct stationery pack your child needs at the beginning of the year or when they start school. For your convenience, complete packs can be purchased from Paper Plus in the Highbury Shopping Centre. Parents are also welcome to purchase the individual items independently if preferred.
Ground Supervision: School grounds are supervised from 8:20 am to 3:15 pm. The school cannot accept responsibility for students on site outside of these hours.Before 8:20 am: Please note there is no indoor shelter or supervision available before 8:20 am, including during wet weather. Before this time, staff are in meetings or preparing classroom lessons. During the Day: Teachers are on duty to supervise students during morning tea and lunch breaks.Late Pick-Ups: If you are running late or unable to collect your child by 3:15 pm, please instruct them to go straight to the school office so we can keep them safe until you arrive.Before school-care: If you need to drop your child off at school before 8:20am, please ensure you are booking them into our Oscar program.
Swimming is a compulsory part of our school Physical Education (PE) curriculum, and all students are expected to participate.Junior Students (Years 0–3): Use our heated, on-site school pool for their swimming lessons.Senior Students (Years 4–6): Travel to the Birkenhead Leisure Centre pool at Birkenhead War Memorial Park for intensive swimming sessions.If your child cannot take part due to medical reasons, please provide a written note or email from a parent/caregiver.
Anyone wishing to visit a classroom must sign themselves in at the office and give the reason for their visit. Classroom teaching time is valuable and fewer interruptions will result in more quality time for the children.
The school has some Walking School Buses, supported by Auckland Transport: Hinemoa Hikers and Collective Cruisers. Click the link for more information about our WALKING SCHOOL BUSES.
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