Enrolment Information

Home Zone

All students who live within the home school zone described below (and shown in the above map) shall be entitled to enrol at Methven Primary School.

• Both sides of boundary roads are included unless stated otherwise.
• The home zone starts in the north at the Rakaia River which acts as the Northern Boundary and the Mountains to the west as the western boundary. The Eastern Boundary starts at the Rakaia Barrhill Methven Road where it aligns with the Lyndhurst Road. It follows the whole length of Lyndhurst Road until it meets Braemar Road and continues on until the Braemar Lauriston Road.
• It then turns right and over the Methven Highway onto Shearers Road and onto Walkhams Road until reaching the Ashburton Staveley Road.
• Turn right and follow the Ashburton Staveley Road into the Forks Road, including Earlys Road, until the Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road (State Highway 72).
• Turn left onto SH72 and then right onto Alford Forest Settlement Road. Follow Alford Forest Settlement Road to meet Spoors Road, turn right and follow Spoors Road back to SH72. Follow SH72 until it reaches the Ashburton River North Branch, including McFarlanes Road.
• The described zone road boundaries may in certain cases be shared with the neighbouring schools and include both sides of the road.

Proof of residence within the home zone will be required through a copy of an amenities account (e.g. rates, power or telephone account).

If at all possible, we would appreciate at least one weeks notification that you intend to enrol your child at Methven Primary School so that preparations can be made to receive your child.

Notification can be made by phoning the school office (03 302 8500), or completing our online enrolment form below.

New entrants are encouraged to make several school visits before their 5th birthday to help make the transition from preschool to school as smooth, happy and positive as possible. More information on our New Entrant Transition Process can be found below.

Applications for enrolments will be processed in the following order of priority:

• First Priority This priority is not applicable at this school because the school does not run a special programme approved by the Secretary for Education.
• Second Priority will be given to applicants who are siblings of current students.
• Third Priority will be given to applicants who are siblings of former students.
• Fourth Priority will be given to any applicant who is a child of a former student of the school.
• Fifth Priority will be given to any applicant who is either a child of an employee of the board of the school or a child of a member of the board of the school.
• Sixth Priority will be given to all other applicants.

If there are more applicants in any priority group than there are places available, selection within the priority group will be by ballot conducted in accordance with instructions by the Secretary, under Schedule 20, Clause 3 (1) of the Education and Training Act 2020. Parents will be informed of the date of any ballot by public notice in a medium appropriate to the area served by the school.

Applicants may be required to give proof of address or sibling relationship.

The guidelines for development and operation of enrolment schemes are issued under Schedule 20, Clause 3 (3) of the Education and Training Act 2020 for the purpose of describing the basis on which the Secretary’s powers in relation to enrolment schemes will be exercised.

New Entrant Transition Process

• Contact the school office to check that we have your child’s details on file.
• 6-8 weeks before your child turns five you will receive an email or letter with transition information including dates and times for your child’s visits.
• There are four transition visits held before your child turns five. These visits are held each Thursday. Please contact the office by phone or email if these dates do not suit
• The first two visits are from 9-11am and the third and fourth visits are from 9-12:30pm.
• Extra transition visits can be arranged at the end of the first visit or by contacting Jo Spittal.
• Parents can stay to help settle their child and then it is recommended the parent leaves their child to have an opportunity to engage with the other students.
• During visits your child will:
  • Meet their home class teacher
  • Get to know the collaborative space and other teachers in the area
  • Connect with friends and make new friends
  • Be given a buddy to support them in the class and in the playground
  • Begin to learn morning routines and where things are put before school
  • Begin to learn expectations during mat time
  • Learn our special code words – silent hands, ninja feet and spy voices
  • Find out what the class leader job is how they will know when it their turn
  • Start to learn about our school values and how to be an MPS STAR.
  • Explore and engage in the many activities provided
  • Have an opportunity to play outside in the play round and eat first lunch with the class during the third and fourth visits.

Twice a year we hold an information meeting for parents whose children are turning 5 soon. At this time you will have an opportunity to meet the principal, teachers and look around the learning environment. If you miss the meeting make an appointment to come and look around.