Putting their best feet forward
BY MARIKA HILL
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Woodville youngsters are getting a leg-up into education, thanks to an new preschool programme.
In the past, half of new entrants arrived at Woodville School unprepared, with some children having no knowledge of books and numbers, principal Gerry McGirr said.
A new transition-to-school programme was established this year to help kids make a smoother shift.
It does that by teaching children the basics – books, numbers and pencil holding – as well as giving them a routine within a school environment.
"We're really just trying to connect school and early childhood so when they get here they're ready," Mr McGirr said.
Although still in its early days, he said the few children who had completed the programme were slotting easily into year one.
Transition-to-school runs twice a week for eight children, who are taught for six months.
Teacher Pam Huddleston, who recently retired as a fulltime teacher after four decades at Woodville School, oversees the children. She said it was more difficult to teach children without preschool-education.
"They have no routine established and are still attached to their mother and father."
Rather than beginning with basic school routines, children with previous early childhood education could be taught at a higher level, she said.
Mr McGirr said there were various reasons some Woodville children were ill-prepared.
The closest kindergarten was in Pahiatua, making travel an issue for some parents.
Although beneficial, playcentres made children less school-ready than kindergartens did, he said.
The local playcentre works with Woodville School, with many children attending both.
There is also a kohanga reo that some children attend.
Early Childhood and Regional Education deputy secretary Rawiri Brell said research showed quality early childhood education could have positive, long-lasting effects.
- © Fairfax NZ News
