At Greytown Early Years, we recognise that every child’s transition to school is unique. We work closely with whānau and local schools to ensure children develop the skills, confidence, and dispositions needed for a successful start to their school journey.
Our transition-to-school approach begins well before a child turns five. We meet with local schools to understand their expectations for new entrants and to ensure our programme supports the knowledge, skills, and competencies children will need as they move into the school environment.
Children aged four and over have opportunities to participate in our Kōwhai Room, a dedicated learning space designed specifically for our older tamariki. Here, children can engage in uninterrupted, age-appropriate experiences that foster independence, problem-solving, early literacy and numeracy, self-management, and collaborative learning. The Kōwhai Room provides a calm and purposeful environment where children can challenge themselves, follow their interests, and build the confidence needed for the next stage of their learning journey.
Our kaiako support children to develop important school-ready skills such as managing their belongings, following routines, communicating their ideas, working alongside others, and taking increasing responsibility for themselves. Through meaningful relationships, play-based learning, and strong partnerships with whānau and schools, we strive to ensure every child leaves Greytown Early Years feeling capable, confident, and excited about starting school.