Success through school readiness
Helping South Auckland’s youngest learners start school with confidence for a successful future.
Every child deserves a positive start to their education. Many children in high-needs communities face significant barriers to engaging in school from day one, with high numbers of new entrants enrolling in school without previously attending early childhood education (ECE) and having a learning maturity age of around three years old. These children often face challenges such as low socialisation, minimal communication skills, limited toileting abilities, and underdeveloped learning readiness – as identified by school principals.
In response to this need, the Ted Manson Foundation launched the School Ready Programme at the beginning of 2024. This initiative supports children not ready to transition directly into the year one curriculum by addressing their developmental gaps and teaching essential social and learning skills.
School Ready Programme
The School Ready Model
In 2025, the programme has expanded operation from 6 to 12 South Auckland primary schools. Sitting alongside existing year one classrooms, the School Ready programme provides children with:
Small class sizes: Each class has a small number of students so as to provide more opportunities for tailored, one-on-one attention.
Specialised curriculum: The mix of Te Whāriki ECE curriculum and the year one primary school curriculum addresses both social and academic development.
Qualified teachers: The Foundation funds ECE-trained teachers who create nurturing, caring environments where children feel safe and valued.
Comprehensive support: Educational resources, teacher aides, and ongoing evaluations help each tamaiti progress towards readiness for the year one curriculum.
Children spend between 2 and 12 weeks in these classes, depending on their individual needs. They transition into the standard year one class once teachers and principals determine they are ready to actively and positively engage.
Ongoing Support for Years 0-3
Support doesn’t end with the School Ready class. The programme includes additional interventions for students in years 0-3 to support academic success. This support features:
Access to education psychologists
Speech and language therapy
In-school counselling services
Free hearing and vision testing
Education psychologists work alongside schools’ SENCo/LSC teams to ensure each child receives the right level of support, strengthening long-term learning outcomes.
The Impact of the Programme
The Programme works to close social and learning gaps so students are achieving at the same level as their peers by the end of year one. Early reports from participating schools indicate most children meet this milestone, gaining the confidence and skills they need to succeed at school. The Programme’s impact is being assessed through a partnership with Auckland University, ensuring ongoing refinement and effectiveness.
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