Rototuna Primary School’s flying start programme a success
Rototuna’s programme for under-fives is proving popular.
Opening the doors of the classroom, you are greeted by a mass of colourful balloons hanging from the ceiling, while tables around the room have activities ranging from painting to crafting with play-dough.
The children are invited on the floor as the teacher introduces herself.
“I’m Mrs Lovell, but some students call me Mrs Lovely,” Karen Lovell jokes to the class.
As the class moves into their lesson on maths, the students are invited to take part in a range of activities.
Mrs Lovell moves over to the hanging balloons where two boys are eyeing them up.
“I bet you can’t put five pegs on that piece of string,” says Lovell.
“I bet I can,” says the smaller of the boys as he begins taking up the challenge, counting the amount of pegs needed.
This is Rototuna Primary school’s flying start programme.
It is designed to help four and a half year olds into the primary school set up, while also making them feel comfortable in their new environment.
“It’s a huge benefit for the children, and the popularity is huge,” deputy principal Kylie Morris said.
The programme started over three years ago and has been a developing ever since.
“It used to be four year olds, but we had to up the age to four and a half year olds due to the popularity.”
Due to the popularity of the programme, spots are limited to 15 slots per session with each student allowed a maximum of six sessions.
The students attend a one hour session each week, with class organised around either reading, writing or maths.
The students start with play-time in the morning before moving into work in the afternoon.
A main point of the programme that parents are required to stay with their children for the session.
“The parent’s involvement in the programme is critical to the process.”
The students are encouraged to have fun while the learning is incorporated into the activities.
Gordon, a parent of one of the students, gives the programme the thumbs-up. “Compared to when we were young, it was no fun allowed,” he says.
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