2. Preparation for school Your child will need A bag that will hold a book-bag, lunches and water bottle (optional). Please check that they are not carrying excess clothing – have a regular check and clean out. Morning tea and lunch and optional drink bottle. Layers for cold mornings and hot afternoons. A school sunhat and togs (in summer). Shoes that are easy to put on and remove.

3. To help your child settle We will allocate a buddy to be with them all day make sure that they are happy check that they are eating their lunches see them onto the bus if necessary allocate an older child as a bus buddy

4. Developing Resilience At Te Uku school, we do this by Developing a positive attitude to learning Developing self – belief as a learner Encouraging independence Establishing classroom routines and expectations Encouraging engagement and effort.....even from day 1!

5. Encouraging Responsibility You can do this by encouraging your child to pack their own bags carry their own bags walk from the school gate managing their belongings

6. Should my child be able to.... Short answer....No! Childrens skills in a New Entrant class range from not being able to hold a pencil.... To being able to write their names (or more). From day 1, your childs learning needs will be met from where ever they are.

7. How you can help at home Make time - To hear your child read every day – 10 minutes (or if they are too tired, you read to them) For counting activities - to 10 and back To play I SPY – something beginning with clo (clock), she (sheep), tra (train), To sing the alphabet song To identify numbers and letters on road signs To help them recognise, and write their names To go onto our school Web page and look for suitable activities on their Class Page – Room 1.

8. Assessments After about 4 – 6 weeks, New Entrant children undergo a School Entry Assessment (SEA) a standardised test that identifies their specific learning needs in Literacy and a Junior Mathematics Assessment, (JAM) for maths. They will continue to be monitored for the rest of the year, until they turn 6, when they will undergo a 6 year Observation survey, Running Record (for reading) and JAM. The results of this testing will be shared with you at Student Led Conferences and through their Learning Journals and the National Standards.

9. Communication Please make sure that bus arrangements are clear and shared with the office and teacher. Please talk to your child about what to do, if they get off the bus and no one is home. Let us know if they are absent before 9am. Let the teacher know if anything has happened that might have an impact on your child during the day.