Starting school

Here are some resources to help you choose a school for your child and get them ready to start school.

Preparing your child for school

Ready for reading: Activities to help develop the skills that lead to reading.
Building literacy skills at home: Tips for supporting your child’s reading development.
Readiness for school: Search the library catalogue for resources about readiness for school
Starting school - children’s books: Search the library catalogue for books for children about starting school
First day of school - children’s fiction: Search the library catalogue for books about the first day of school
Starting school: Information for parents and caregivers from littlies.com
School-ready: Information for parents and caregivers from kiwifamilies.co.nz

Choosing a school for a five year old: A step by step guide for parents and caregivers published by Education Review Office.
School finder service: The Ministry of Education’s School Finder service.
Education Review Office: Search for ERO reports on schools.
Deciles: Frequently asked questions: A school’s decile indicates the extent to which it draws its students from low socio-economic communities. From the Ministry of Education.

Primary schools in Christchurch and Canterbury: Contacts for Christchurch and Canterbury in CINCH.
Kura kaupapa in Christchurch and Canterbury: Contacts for Christchurch and Canterbury in CINCH.
School choice - New Zealand: Search the library catalogue for resources on school choice in New Zealand

Home schooling: Contacts for Christchurch and Canterbury in CINCH.
Canterbury Home Educators: Organizes shared activities and resources for parents home schooling in the Canterbury region.
Otautahi Home Educators: Otautahi is a small Home Educators group, with a focus on building rapport and networks for learning within the Christchurch community(especially the North East side of Christchurch).
Special Education Service: Includes frequently asked questions about special education and contacts for help.
Special education: Contacts for Christchurch and Canterbury in CINCH.