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Our Learning
At Wainui School, learning is more than just what happens in the classroom - it’s woven through our gardens, our bush, our friendships, and our community.
We believe that every child learns best when they feel safe, supported and inspired. That’s why we’ve built a nurturing environment where tamariki are seen as individuals, learning goals are clear, and progress is celebrated.
Whether your child is just beginning their school journey or growing into leadership in our senior classes, we’re here to challenge, uplift and walk alongside them every step of the way.
What Learning Looks Like at Wainui
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Structured and Supportive: Our programmes are thoughtfully designed with clear goals, consistent routines, and regular progress tracking.
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Personalised and Inclusive: Every learner is unique. We set realistic, meaningful goals and offer tailored support—including extension and enrichment where needed.
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Flexible Class Structures: We offer a mix of composite and single-level classes, depending on cohort sizes and student needs.
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Connected to the Real World: From bush walks to inquiry learning, cross-curricular projects to EOTC, we bring learning to life in creative, hands-on ways.
PB4L and E Tu Tangata
Our school is a Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) school, intentionally supporting our students to develop positive learning habits and make good behavioural choices. We actively "notice" and celebrate children demonstrating these choices and giving their best. You'll see clear behaviour guides and positive reinforcement strategies throughout our kura, with staff focused on acknowledging our students' positive actions. Integral to our PB4L approach is E Tu Tangata, a kaupapa that encourages our students to Stand Tall, Stand Together, and Stand Proud. This philosophy reinforces our belief in the inherent worth and potential of every child and fosters respect and collective responsibility. By combining PB4L and E Tu Tangata, we aim to cultivate positive behaviours and empower confident, connected learners who value themselves and others within our school community.
Learning Support
Ensuring every student reaches their full potential is a priority at our school. We offer a comprehensive range of learning support, addressing everything from mild learning difficulties to more complex needs. Our Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) plays a vital role in ensuring that students with diverse learning needs receive the support and resources they require to thrive. Our dedicated and experienced learning assistants play a vital role in supporting our students' overall well-being, working with them individually or in small groups to enhance their learning, build positive relationships and social skills, and foster positive behaviour for learning We actively partner with external specialists, including the Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), Ministry of Education Learning Support, Speech Language Therapists, private tutors, and Specialist Teacher Outreach Services, to deliver effective and targeted support for our learners. Central to our approach is the Hauora (well-being) of our students. We actively foster a safe and nurturing environment where every child feels valued and supported. To further enhance this, we have a school counsellor who is available to provide up to three free sessions for any child who may require support. Our commitment to holistic well-being extends to offering valuable programmes such as Positive Puberty Plus, SALT and SALT Big Buddy programmes and visits from the Life Education mobile classroom. These initiatives equip our students with essential knowledge and skills to navigate different stages of life and make healthy choices.
Structured Literacy
At our school, we are committed to providing our students with the most effective and evidence-based approach to literacy instruction through Structured Literacy. This explicit and systematic method focuses on the foundational skills necessary for reading and writing success, ensuring all learners build a strong literacy base. All of our junior school teachers are trained in the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA), equipping them with the expertise to deliver high-quality Structured Literacy instruction from the beginning of a child's learning journey. Our senior school teachers are also currently receiving comprehensive training in Structured Literacy. This transition will eventually see us move from our current “The Code” and Sharp Reading programmes to a fully integrated Structured Literacy framework. This shift reflects our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and providing the best possible literacy outcomes for all our students. To further enhance writing skills, we also utilise Writer's Toolbox. This resource complements our Structured Literacy approach by providing explicit instruction and practice in the key elements of writing. While our aim is to improve literacy achievement for all students, we have a particular focus on accelerating the progress of our boys. We believe that a structured and explicit approach, combined with engaging resources like Writer's Toolbox, will empower our male learners to become confident and capable readers and writers.
Structured Maths
At our school, we are committed to building strong mathematical foundations for all our students through a structured approach to mathematics. This means we focus on explicit, systematic, and sequential teaching of key mathematical concepts and skills. Wainui School is also actively involved in the Learners' First Professional Learning and Development (PLD) initiative. This valuable partnership supports our ongoing journey to enhance our teaching practices and ensure we are implementing the most effective, evidence-based strategies in mathematics instruction. In our junior school, we utilise the Maths Miles programme. This resource provides a structured framework for teaching foundational number concepts in a way that is accessible and enjoyable for our younger learners. Underpinning our mathematics instruction across the school is PR1ME, our Ministry of Education-funded resource. This comprehensive programme aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum and provides a robust structure for teaching mathematical concepts and processes. To gain clear insights into our students' understanding of number, we are transitioning to using Jo Knox and Marie Hirst's Maths Snapshots for our assessments in this area. These assessments provide valuable information about individual student progress and inform our teaching. In the Senior school, we utilise the Progressive Achievement Tests (PATs) in mathematics. These standardized assessments provide a broader picture of student achievement and growth over time, helping us to monitor the effectiveness of our mathematics programme and identify areas for further development.
Assessment & Reporting
At Wainui school, we use a range of ways to check how well your child is learning, ensuring we have a clear understanding of each student's progress and can effectively communicate this with parents and whānau. In our junior school, we utilise Maths Snapshots to gain valuable insights into our young learners' understanding of key mathematical concepts. This tool helps us to identify individual strengths and areas for growth, allowing us to tailor our instruction effectively. We are excited to be extending the use of Maths Snapshots into our Year 4-6 team, commencing in Term 3, to provide consistent and detailed assessment data for the number strand of the refreshed maths curriculum For our senior students, we use the Progressive Achievement Tests (PATs) in mathematics and reading comprehension. These standardised assessments provide a broader measure of achievement and track progress against national norms. In our junior school, we also conduct BSLA (Better Start Literacy Approach) testing to monitor the development of essential early literacy skills. To track progress in writing across all levels, we utilise e-AsTTle, a valuable tool for assessing and monitoring student writing development over time. We believe in clear and consistent communication with parents. We provide written reports twice a year, in Term 2 and Term 4, which offer a detailed overview of your child's learning and progress. Additionally, we hold verbal conferences in Term 1 and Term 3, providing an opportunity for face-to-face discussions about your child's learning journey, goals, and how we can work together to support their success.
Garden to Table
At Wainui School, we are incredibly proud to offer our Garden to Table programme to students in Years 4-8. This hands-on initiative has become a cherished and firmly embedded part of our school culture, providing invaluable learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. So, what is Garden to Table? It's a programme that empowers children to learn about growing, harvesting, preparing, and sharing fresh, seasonal food. Students actively participate in every step of the process, from planting seeds and tending the school garden to cooking delicious and nutritious meals with the produce they've grown. Through this hands-on approach, students gain practical gardening and cooking skills, develop a deeper connection with nature and the environment, enhance their teamwork and communication abilities, and cultivate a strong understanding of healthy eating and sustainable practices.
Digital Learning & Digital Safety
At Wainui School, digital learning empowers our students to become responsible and effective digital citizens, prepared for the modern world. We strategically integrate technology across the curriculum to ignite engagement, personalise learning, sharpen critical thinking, foster collaboration, and unleash creativity. Explicit teaching in digital citizenship ensures our students navigate the online world safely and ethically. Committed to staying current, our staff engage in ongoing professional development to leverage the latest technologies and pedagogical practices, ultimately equipping our students with the essential skills to thrive in the digital age.
Curriculum overview
At Wainui School, our curriculum is designed to provide a rich and holistic learning experience that nurtures the whole child. We are committed to fostering academic excellence alongside the development of essential skills, positive values, and a love of learning that will last a lifetime. Our curriculum is aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum and is brought to life through engaging and relevant learning experiences tailored to meet the diverse needs and interests of our students. Underpinning all aspects of our curriculum at Wainui School are our 5Rs: Respect, Resouceful, Resilience, Reflective, Relational. These values are woven into our daily learning and interactions, fostering a positive and supportive school culture. We also highly value Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC) experiences and sporting opportunities, recognizing their crucial role in developing well-rounded individuals, building teamwork, and fostering a love of physical activity. Our successful Garden to Table programme is not just a stand-alone activity but is intentionally woven through various learning areas, providing rich, hands-on contexts for learning across the curriculum. Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) and the values of E Tu Tangata are integral to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where all students can thrive and reach their full potential.
Music
Music plays an important role in the learning experience at Wainui School. Through regular song learning and Kapa Haka sessions, students develop their vocal abilities and cultivate a love of music. Our curriculum also features integrated opportunities to explore music at various times throughout the year. To further enrich our students' musical journey, we host itinerant music teachers who offer specialised instruction in a variety of instruments, providing opportunities for those who wish to pursue their musical interests in more depth.
Maria O'Flaherty - Guitar, Keyboard, Piano & Vocals Tutor
Ross Hutchinson - Guitar, Keyboard, & Drums Tutor
Sports
At Wainui School, we provide a variety of sporting and EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom) experiences both during and after school. Our whole school gathers for events like Cross Country, House days, and Athletics. Our senior students have the chance to take part in the following zone days during the year: Year 5-6: Athletics, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rippa Rugby, Cross Country, Swimming, Cricket, Softball, Tag Year 7-8: Swimming, Summer Sports Day, Triathlon, Cross Country, Athletics Our after-school sports are coached and managed by the Wainui School parent community, focusing mainly on winter sports such as Netball, Basketball, Hockey, and Flippa Ball. Sign-ups for these activities happen in Term 1. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Luke Cochrane or Halena Howard.
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