Enrolments

If you are interested in enrolling your child at the school, kindergarten or playgroup then please make initial contact with the school office (Tel 03 471 2163 or email Office@dunedin.steiner.school.nz). We will then arrange for you to complete an enrolment form and meet teachers or other school members. We would also invite you to a meeting to discuss the special character of the school - especially if your child was to come straight into school without having entered at Playgroup or Kindergarten age.

Spaces are restricted, so it is a good idea to enrol your children as soon as you know that you want them to come to the school.

The school will comply with its obligation as an integrated school to only enroll those pupils whose family or guardians have established a connection with the special character of the Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School. New applicants to the school will therefore have a meeting with a representative of the Proprietors Trust where the nature of this commitment to the Steiner approach can be established.

Priority in Enrolment

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

First Priority will be given to preference applicants within the Greater Dunedin Territorial Local Authority boundaries.

Within this priority group if there are more applicants than there are spaces available they will be considered in the following priority order:

1. Preference applicants who are children of board employees of the Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School
2. Preference applicants who are attending the Dunedin Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten, in order of the length of time that they have attended the kindergarten
3. Preference applicants who, by the date of commencement as a student at the Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School, will have completed no less than 6 months at another Rudolf Steiner kindergarten, playgroup, pre-school or school
4. Preference applicants who are siblings of current children enrolled at the Rudolf Steiner School
5. All other preference applicants

Second Priority will be given to to children outside the geographic boundaries, in the order shown above.

Waiting list: In each of the categories 1-5 above, applicants will be listed in order of receipt of their applications. The School will maintain a waiting list which records the date at which each application is received. In each of the categories, available places will be offered to students in the order in which their names occur on the waiting list for a particular year of entry. Prospective students may be registered on a waiting list at any time.

Pre-enrolment: Each year applications for enrolment will be sought by a date which will be published in a daily or community newspaper circulating in the area served by the school.

Kindergarten Readiness – Entrance to Kindergarten

Children join the kindergarten after their third birthday and attend the kindergarten for 3 years. For children older than five who have already spent considerable time in a school (e.g. more than a year) we may recommend they wait and join the school in Class 1 when they are old enough (see the definition of School Readiness below). However, this can only happen if there are spaces available (children coming directly from the kindergarten are given preference).

School Readiness – Entrance to Class One

We consider children to be ready for school around the age of seven years. Children having a birthday before October will generally be recommended for Class 1 and those having their birthdays after this date will generally be recommended for kindergarten. The parents receive a readiness recommendation from the kindergarten teachers and after careful consultation a school entry decision will be made.

The College of Teachers encourages parents, especially those with children who fall into the discretionary range of September/October, to attend the annual information evening, where kindergarten teachers provide full information about the issue of school readiness, based on child development.

School Enrolment

Ideally children progress to school from a Rudolf Steiner kindergarten. Enrolments to the school only is possible but requires careful consideration.

Two to three years in the kindergarten are an important part of preparation for the full benefit of the Waldorf curriculum and our goal is that all children come from our kindergartens to start Class One. However, we are open to consider school-only enrolments, but need to carefully assess the needs of the child and the needs of the established class. School-only enrolled children bring extra needs – not necessarily in an academic sense – but in a 'Waldorf sense' – simply from having missed important parts of this comprehensive curriculum (e.g. practical skills such as recorder playing and knitting, or social skills acquired in the kindergarten).

School-only enrolments follow the normal enrolment process and are considered by the College of Teachers on a case-by-case basis. As criteria for enrolment in the kindergarten include a connection and commitment to respecting and understanding the 'Special Character' of the Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School, we need to be reassured that this is also the case with school-only enrolments. To protect important aspects of our 'Special Character', limiting the amount of a child's screen watching time (e.g. television, video, DVD, electronic games, computer screen) is highly desirable and often requires active reinforcement by the parents/caregiver at home.

Enrolment Procedure

Inquiry to the School Office.

Parents are invited to visit the school or kindergarten for a meeting. A subsequent visit by the parent and child may then be arranged with the teacher. The parent handbook provides further information about the school.

Application for admission is made by submitting a kindergarten or school enrolment form.

Relationship to special character: The school reserves the right to ensure that the school community is committed to the Special Character of the School by careful selection of prospective pupils (refer to Private Schools Conditional Integration Act 1975, Section 29, Preference of Enrolment).

An interview takes place between the Class Teacher, a representative of the Proprietors, and the parents.

College of teachers: the proposed admission is brought to the College of Teachers.

• The College of Teachers each year will review the enrolments for that year in the light of present children, and classes in the school, and teachers needed. This will be communicated to the Board of Trustees.
• The parents will be asked to show the child's most recent school report (if applicable).
• At the interview the parents will be asked:
  
  
  • Why they have chosen this school?
  • Have the parents informed themselves of the special character of the school?
  • How was this done (e.g. Books, Anthroposophy, connection with other Rudolf Steiner schools and kindergartens)?
• What contribution could the parents make to the school (e.g. skills & talents)?
• Explain financial commitment and fees. An arrangements for those who cannot meet full fees is possible.
• Parents are reminded of schools code of conduct, school rules and school dress.

Acknowledgement Letter (or phone call) to parents stating acceptance or refusal and waiting list status (if operating). An acceptance letter will include confirmation of the parents’ financial commitment and will be accompanied by an enrolment form.

Completed enrolment form returned to school. Information from previous school sought (record card etc.).

Starting date / One term’s review. Class Teacher and parents agree on starting date. Children are accepted, subject to a review after one term. If there is any need to reconsider the child’s place in the school, the parents will be contacted before the end of term.

Fees and Donations

The kindergarten charges fees for attendance. At the school, parents are asked to pledge a donation as part of their commitment to the school. Fees and recommended donations change, so please check with the school and kindergarten for the current levels.

Kindergarten fees

We are pleased to be able to offer the 20 Hours FREE ECE for all three and four year olds. Simply complete an attestation form if you wish your child to participate in this scheme. This will be included in your enrolment pack. Otherwise the fee for kindergarten for three and four year olds is $4.50 per hour.

If your child is attending for more than 20 hours per week, the hourly rate of $4.50 per hour will apply. You may be eligible for a WINZ subsidy to help cover this cost. It is expected that you will pay any additional fees (over and above the 20 Hour FREE programme) either at the beginning of the term, or by automatic payment. We also ask if parents receiving the 20 hours Free subsidy can make a $1 per hour attended donation.

When your child turns 5 the sessional fee is automatically changed to a flat rate weekly fee of $50 for the week. This policy brings Kindergarten fees in line with those of the School. Parents who receive WINZ subsidies pay the difference between the amount of the subsidy and our Kindergarten fees.

Fees are not charged when the Kindergarten is closed, e.g. statutory holidays or snow days.

School Donations

Parents are asked to contribute up to $65 per week per child. Reductions of 25% and 50% may apply to second and subsequent children.