Enrolment
Enrolment Process
If you are considering enrolling your child at our kura, we encourage you to schedule an appointment to help with the enrolment process. Parents can pre-enrol their children once they turn four using our online form.
This allows us to prepare for your child's start date and ensure we have everything in place for an easy transition into the classroom and our school community. The school office will contact you to set up a meeting with the principal and classroom teacher to discuss your child and answer any questions you may have.
Cohort Entry
From the start of the 2026 school year, Awapuni School will be adopting a cohort entry approach for all children starting school for the first time. Cohort entry is where children start school for the first time in groups on set dates, rather than on or after their fifth birthday.
The start dates are set by the Minister of Education. Schools using cohort entry must use these dates and cannot change them. 2026 start dates:
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Term 1 – 2 February or 9 March.
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Term 2 – 20 April or 2 June.
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Term 3 – 20 July or 24 August.
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Term 4 – 12 October or 16 November.
When your enrolment is confirmed you will be asked to also confirm a start date from the dates above.
New Entrant School Visits
If your child is starting school, please contact the school office at least 10 weeks before their 5th birthday to schedule visits.
We recommend 4 visits to help tamariki adjust to the classroom, meet their teacher and classmates, and settle into the school routine.
Visits are from 8:45 am to 10:30 am. Parents are welcome to stay during the first visit to encourage their child’s engagement with learning.