Starting School

Starting school is a special time for the student and parents. We do everything we can to ensure that it is a positive time for everyone. Below are answers to questions we are often asked.

Please do download our School Prospectus as this includes a great deal of useful information. We also have a general FAQ page (under About Us) with helpful information. Our office staff are here to help as well. Our teachers will also assist in every way they can. Please do make an appointment with your childs teacher if you wish to have more than a very brief conversation as the time before and after school is busy for teachers.

Presentations/Parent Sessions

Nothing beats going along to one of our school presentatons/workshops and informaiton evenings. We know this is not always possible so we have included a PDF of the presentations below.

Starting School at Five : NE Parent Meeting
Listening to your child read Presentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the School Hours?

The bell goes at 8.45am each morning, not 9.00am. Students should be at school by 8.40am to enable a prompt start to the day and to eliminate disruptions from students arriving after activities have begun.

School Programme MONDAY –THURSDAY

  • 8.45am Bell to go to Classroom
  • 8.50am Commencement of morning programme
  • 11.00am Morning Interval – first 5 minutes supervised eating in class
  • 11.20am End of Interval
  • 12.30pm – 1.25pm Lunch
  • 1.25pm End of Lunchtime Warning Bell
  • 1.30pm Start of afternoon programme
  • 2.55pm School closes for the day

FRIDAY As above EXCEPT morning interval is 10.00—10.20am

If children arrive earlier, staff are not responsible for their supervision until 8.30 in the morning. There may not be a teacher in the classroom until that time. In the afternoon children are expected to go directly home [or to a prearranged destination]. With your knowledge and permission, they are welcome to return to play in the school grounds. Staff are usually on site until late afternoon, but they are not available or responsible for supervision.

What is the process for school visits and transition from ECE?

We strongly recommend school visits for new entrants and their parents. The School will contact parents to arrange the visits prior to your child’s starting date. There will be two visits in the month prior to your child’s first day at school. The aim of these visits is to familiarise your child with school, their teacher and the other children in the class. The visits last 45-60 minutes. We are in close contact with the ECE’s where the majority of our students attend.

What food should my child bring to school?

We have a healthy food policy and we are an Enviro School. Students are only to bring water to school for drinking, and we want children to eat healthy food with limited processing. Parents find plastic lunch boxes with many compartments very handy. Please avoid yogurts as they often make a mess and can be tricky for students to open pottles.

Students are to only eat the food they bring from home. Eating of morning tea and lunch is supervised and uneaten food is kept in their lunchbox so you can see how much they have eaten.

We have a number of students with nut allergies and prefer that nuts, peanut butter and the like are not brought to school. However, these foods are not banned.

What are the stationery requirements?

This is the stationery list for Year 1 students. In addition, we ask that you purchase a New Entrant pack from our Reception which has essential items for your child.

Stationery List

Where will my child be placed?

When a child comes to school as a five year old, he/she will be placed in the current New Entrant/Year 1 class. Prior to starting school it is usual for each child to complete two pre school visits. At the beginning of each year there is usually two New Entrant classes accepting children and a new class is opened up once the original two are filled.

At the commencement of each year for Year 2 and above, we take care to ensure that each class has an even spread of gender, ability and attainment. During the year additional enrolments can be a steady stream. Where these new children are placed depends on class sizes and on the needs of the pupil.

What is the cut off date for Year 1 or Year 0?

At Seatoun School, the cut-off birthdate for children to move from Year 1 to Year 2 is 30 April/end of Term 1. This means that in general, children who start school in Term 1 will be considered Year 1 and will move into Year 2 in the following calendar year. In general, children who start in Terms 2,3 and 4 will be considered Year 0 and will move into Year 1 in the following calendar year.

We carefully look at all children’s progress if their birthdays fall within a month either side of 30 April/end of Term 1 to ensure they are suited socially, academically and physically to the Year level their birthday puts them in. We will only move children out of their age group under exceptional circumstances and after full consultation with parents.

What can you do to help prepare your child for school?

  • Talk to your child about starting school where he/she will meet new friends, learn about the world, play games, sing songs and make interesting things.
  • Help your child to learn how to put on clothing and care for personal belongings. Select velcro shoes, but when ready, teach them to tie their laces, put clothes in own bag etc.
  • Clearly label all possessions your child brings to school with his/her full name – raincoats, hats, bags, plastic bottles, etc. Be sure to check from time to time whether the label is still intact and legible.
  • Send your child to school on time each and every day. Be prepared to say goodbye for the day before school starts. If your child is upset to see you go, encourage them to play with others, and be firm. In most cases, an upset child will settle very quickly and have a great day. We will always contact you if there is a continued problem.
  • Give your child duties to perform in and around home which require only one or two simple directions. This will give him/her confidence to complete small tasks.
  • Encourage children to be responsible for putting school equipment in the right place, e.g. bookbags in the bookbag box, hanging up their own coat and bag, lunch orders in the correct box etc.
  • Encourage your child by admiring his/her work when he/she brings it home. Give his/her painting or model a place of honour for a few days.
  • Regularly enjoy stories together. Read the school reader with them each night, with lots of praise and enjoyment.
  • Make sure your child can toilet themselves, even things like they can remove toilet paper from the dispenser – without ripping it is very useful.
  • When reading to them or giving them instructions, make sure they are listening.

Look for opportunities to introduce and use pre-literacy and numeracy skills. Some of these activities could include: Playing I spy, board games, writing their name in cards, drawing pictures, counting items.

Once students have started school they can become very tired. Try to limit the amount of outside activities they are in and ensure they get plenty of sleep.

Class Designations

Classes are identified according to the years the students have attended school. This national system provides for the continuous identification of classes throughout the years of compulsory schooling. From the start of the students’ first complete year at school, they will be in Year 1 and move on by year from there.

If a New Entrant begins in Term 2, 3 or 4, they will complete that year as a Year 0 and be designated Year 1 at the start of the following year. In consultation with the parents, a decision can be made to alter designation for individual children if this is in the best interest of the student.