Choosing a school for your child(ren) is a big responsibility for all parents. In North Canterbury there are a variety of options available to you, depending upon where you live. Most children are enrolled at school by their fifth birthday. North Canterbury also caters for parents who require pre-school care and education.
Early childhood care in New Zealand includes preschools, kindergartens, Playcentres, playgroups, kohanga reo and home-based care. There is no mandatory preschool education in New Zealand, although the government does support most pre-school education by providing 20 hours free per child for children aged 3 and 4. Not all care options are part of this scheme so it is important to check, if this is a requirement for you. Early Childhood Centres in New Zealand are reviewed by the Education Review Office on average every 3 years. The inspection reports are available on their website.
View all North Canterbury Early Childhood Centres here >>
There are a number of private companies who offer care for pre-schoolers in your own home or in the home of a care provider. These services are growing in popularity for those parents who do not want their children to attend a larger or formal setting. Some parents also choose to home school their children right through their educational career.
In New Zealand, most children start school soon after their 5th birthday. However, they are not legally required to begin school until they are 6 years old.
There are a number of different school types in New Zealand. Most fall under one of the following types:
View all North Canterbury Schools here >>
All schools are inspected by the Education Review Office and full inspection reports for each school can be found on their website.