What is cohort entry?

Cohort entry is where children start school for the first time together in groups after they turn 5.

School boards can choose to adopt a formal cohort entry policy. Under this policy, new entrants can only start on specific dates set by us.

There are 2 entry dates each term for schools using formal cohort entry:

• the first day of term
• a mid-point during a term.

If your school doesn't wish to formally change to cohort entry you can keep using continuous entry, where you accept children on any date after they turn 5. You can also use an informal cohort entry policy, where cohort start dates are encouraged but not enforceable.

Children must still start school before they turn 6

Cohort entry does not replace the legal requirement that a child start school by age 6. Parents, caregivers and whānau can still choose to not enrol their student before then.

Cohort entry policy: Education and Training Act 2020 – New Zealand Legislation

Dates for starting school under cohort entry policy: Education and Training Act 2020 – New Zealand Legislation

Changing to cohort entry

As with any policy change, school boards must consult with their community first. Boards must:

• consult with staff, parents of current and prospective students, and local early learning services to consider whether they find the policy generally acceptable
• give at least 1 term’s notice of the change to parents, staff and local early learning services (this could be done through their website, or in a local community newspaper).

Adoption or revocation of cohort entry policy: Education and Training Act 2020 – New Zealand Legislation

Inform us of the change

After you consult on the change and it has been agreed to, you must write to us confirming:

• you have consulted the wider community
• that the community found a policy of cohort entry generally acceptable
• the date that you told your community that you will start cohort entry
• which term the cohort entry policy will take effect from (at least 1 term after you notified your community and us).

Email: [email protected]

Returning to continuous entry

The same process applies if schools wish to consider returning to continuous entry. Schools must consult and provide at least 1 term’s notice to their community and us.

Transferring students from another school

If a child has already been enrolled at another school and is moving to a school with cohort entry, the school cannot apply their cohort entry policy to this child’s start date.

Funding

New entrant students enrolling as part of a cohort on the first day of Term 3 are not included in the 1 July roll count.

We use the number of enrolled students at the beginning of Term 3 who have their fifth birthday between the mid-point of Term 2 and 1 July of the same year to calculate funding for these students. We do this to avoid any difference in funding between cohort entry schools and schools using continuous entry.

This amount is automatically calculated annually and paid as part of the October operational grant instalment.

Informal cohort entry

A school can run an “informal” cohort entry arrangement where they encourage 5-year-olds to start school at the start of each term, or another date within each term.

Schools cannot enforce an informal cohort entry policy. You still need to accept new entrants at the time of their parents’ choosing (ie on their fifth birthday or any day thereafter).

You do not need to run a consultation process or give 1 term’s notice for informal cohort entry. It is still a good idea to consider the views of your school community if you are making this change.

Cohort entry benefits

There is evidence that starting school alongside other children helps them build relationships and supports a smoother entry to school life. It can also mean less disruption for new entrant teachers who can prepare for groups of children arriving on a specific date rather than on an individual and ad hoc basis through the year.

Starting school together: What do we know? – Education Review Office