New Zealand ranks in the World’s top 20 nations for the quality of schools and childcare facilities.
All children between the ages of 6-16 must ensure that they have ongoing education, whether physically attending a school or homeschooling. New Zealand has three different types of schools: public, state-integrated, and private.
Public schools in New Zealand
Most children in New Zealand attend a public (State) school, which the New Zealand Government funds. Enrolling your kids within the area you accommodate is common as it guarantees you an automatic spot. Parents/caregivers should consider the choice of accommodation carefully as it is compulsory to provide evidence of your children’s visa status and where they live.
Best public schools
Auckland Grammar School is a public day and boarding high school for boys in years nine to fifteen. Ranked as one of the top institutions for academic excellence, they currently have over 2500 students and are considered the third largest educational institution in New Zealand. Thorndon School is a culturally diverse primary school based in the inner cities of Wellington, New Zealand. Their outcomes are for students to be creative, collaborative and respectful of others.
State integrated schools
State Integrated Schools are run explicitly by a specific religious faith, such as Catholic, or specialised educational, structured systems, such as Steiner and Montessori schools. Though the New Zealand Government funds education, there are compulsory fees of NZ $1,500 per annum to contribute to facilities and resources for these schools.
Private schools in New Zealand
Generally, private schools only accumulate a small percentage in New Zealand. The Government does not fund them, and costs typically a minimum of NZ $25,000 per annum. Private schools comprise of boarding facilities so your children can live at the school to heighten their social and independent skills.
You can also click on the link below to help you find the nearest school.
Homeschooling
As children aged six to sixteen must be registered under an educational institution, parents who want kids to be homeschooled must apply for permission from the New Zealand Ministry of Education. Though homeschooling is not a popular option, parents must show evidence that their child will be taught as well as in a regular school. Once the Ministry of Education accepts your application, you will be entitled to claim a state-sponsored stipend to help with costs. Several online resources and support groups are available for homeschooled children and their parents, such as the Home Education Association.
Click on the link below to find out more about the Home Education Association
Early learning services
Even though early childhood education is not compulsory, it helps children develop their interests and abilities before they start primary school by exposing them to new things and preparing them for school. The Ministry of Education must license all learning services in New Zealand, so providers must meet education and care requirements.
Early learning centres also work through school holidays, so it can be challenging to find a spot in the bigger cities of New Zealand. With the high demand, it is essential to research early to enrol your children as soon as possible. There are two different types of learning services – teacher-led or parent-led early learning services.
Teacher-led early learning services
Teacher-led early learning services are where 50% of working adults are qualified and certificated as ECE (Early Childhood Education) teachers. They are fully licensed and must meet the standard requirements by the New Zealand Government for property, education and care programs, health and safety, and service management.
Kindergartens
All kindergartens accept children between the ages of two and five, where you can have full-day and art-day care, such as morning and afternoon sessions. A kindergarten in New Zealand must be managed by an association where all teachers must be qualified ECE teachers.
Education and care services
These services are run all day or consist of flexible hour programs for kids from birth to the age of six. Generally operated by community groups, some have cultural, and language-focused beliefs about teaching. This may include Montessori, Rudolph Steiner, or Maori culture. They can also be privately owned or operated within an organisation with a vision of helping young children and helping them adapt to the world.
Home-based education and care
This is provided for small groups of four and children up to five in a certified educator’s home or the comfort of your accommodation. However, for this to be provided, the educator must be working in a home-based service facility provided by a coordinator with the qualifications of an ECE teacher.
Te Kura (the correspondence school)
Te Kura early educators work with parents and caregivers to meet a child’s learning attributes and requirements. It is a learning program for children between the ages of three and five that is unable to attend an early learning service. A range of books, puzzles, art and craft materials, toys, and games can be borrowed so educators can help build on children’s development skills.
Parent-led early learning services
Parent-led early learning services acknowledge the importance of parent and Whanau training and involvement. Whanau services specifically offer a Maori environment for children from birth to school age. You and your children will also learn about the importance of parenting, help develop social and community networks and build confidence.
Playcentres and Kohanga Reo
Play centers and Kohanga Reo caters to children up to six and are run cooperatively by parents. Kohanga Reo is also a playcenter but educates children in a Maori cultural environment. This provides caregivers, parents, and other family members a chance to educate and care for their children. As playcenters are under a regional association for program support and are managed by the New Zealand Playcenter Federation, they must be licensed for playcenters to happen.
Playgroups
There are plenty of playgroups around New Zealand where parents, caregivers, and children up to five gather in a relaxed, fun environment. This is a chance for parents to interact with each other, whilst children get the opportunity to build their communicative skills and physical activity.
Playgroups are generally run by parents and caregivers, where activities are also included for children at a low cost or free. This could include singing, music, outdoor activities, free play, and arts and crafts. Some cultural-focused playgroups include Puna kohungahunga, a Maori-focused playground and Pacific Island playgroups.
Costs of early childhood education
There are costs to early childhood education so always check with the service about the enrolment terms and the price. If your children attend an early learning service provider for up to six hours a day or 30 hours weekly, the New Zealand Government can subsidise funding for this if they are up to six.
If your children are between three and five and enrolled with a provider, they can receive more funding subsidies. This is called the 20 hours ECE and does not charge fees for early learning for up to six hours daily and 20 hours weekly. Nevertheless, asking about your early learning service is recommended to see if this will be offered.
Before and after-school care
In New Zealand, children under the age of fourteen cannot be alone without supervision. Therefore, community childcare or private providers offer before and after school care from 7:30 am to 8:30 am and 3pm –5pm from community childcare or private providers. Providers must be part of the New Zealand Government’s OSCAR (Out of School Care and Recreation) to take care of children in these facilities. Holiday programs are also offered where services are run during business hours.
Role of parents
It is vital to keep updated with your children’s education. This means keeping up with school updates through newsletters, making appointments anytime with teachers to talk to them, and going through the website occasionally for additional information. If your children cannot attend school, you must always ensure that the school is notified as it is mandatory to participate in and for safety reasons. It is essential to attend regular parent-teacher interviews to discuss the progress of your children. Remember that all schools have different homework policies, so ensure you know what policies are in place to help them at home.
Selecting a school
Generally, children are enrolled at a school that is within their catchment area. Parents and caregivers can apply for schools in different regions; however, first preference is always given to those living within that catchment area.
Click on the link below to help you find a school within your catchment area.
School records
New Zealanders tend to check the Ministry of Education site to obtain valuable data on schools, such as attendance records, how well they perform against national qualifications and standards, and the number of students. The Education Review Office provides a website link to each school’s performance report. These reports are updated every three years after assessing the school’s performance and gathering all the statistical data.
If you have a specific school in mind for your children and want to know how well it has been performing, click on the link below (Education Review Office, 2022).
Education review reports for New Zealand
School visits
Before enrolling your children, you should visit the school to see the facilities. This can be accomplished by contacting staff directly to make an appointment or attending the school open day, where anyone can visit and look around the school.
School Curriculum
A national curriculum system always guides learning at State or Integrated schools in New Zealand. This supports the guide for what your children will learn at school and helps young people become connected and lifelong learners. Taught in English, schools in New Zealand use a nationwide curriculum guide in formulating subjects to meet the interests of parents and children.
There are five focuses from the national curriculum, including thinking, symbols, using language, relating to others and managing self, and participating and contributing. The eight key learning areas to help reach the five competencies are English, language, maths, science, technology, health and physical education, arts, and social sciences. You will also receive report cards twice a year to determine how well your children are doing at school.
