Cohort entry to stay for children five years and over
Legislation for grouped (cohort) entry into schools for children aged five and over has been introduced in Parliament
today, as signalled earlier this year, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said.
The Education Amendment Bill (No 2) ensures that schools will be allowed to adopt a cohort entry policy for five year old children. If a school adopts
cohort entry, it will enrol groups of children, aged five and over, on the first day of term and at a mid-point during
each term. The new provisions take effect from 1 January 2020. Schools can also continue with continuous entry as
children turn five if they wish to do so.
“Raising the age for cohort entry to five, and allowing two entry points per term, reflects the views of the majority of
those consulted by the Ministry of Education, on the changes, in February 2018,” Chris Hipkins said.
“The Government supports schools having the option of starting students in groups. But we also believe, and the
education experts and most consulted agreed, that four is too young to be in school.
“Less than 50 schools took up the previous Government’s option to admit students in groups, from age four. The Bill
allows these schools to continue current arrangements until 1 January 2020. From then, they can admit children in
groups, aged five and over.
The new Bill also repeals the previous Government’s plans to introduce Communities of Online Learning (COOLs) from 31
December 2019.
“This Government sees high quality online learning for students as being an integral part of a high performing public
education system. But the previous Government ploughed ahead with the legislation for online providers despite experts
and education professionals raising a number of concerns, including significant concerns that kids with additional
learning needs may be shuffled away from schools and into COOL even if it’s not the best option for them.
“We will consider future options for online learning with children and young people, as well as with parents, the
sector, and with people with disabilities, as part of the Education Conversation.
Other parts of the Bill propose:
• Making a physically and emotionally safe place for students a registration criteria for private schools
• Allowing a Minister to issue a direction relating to specific Education Council functions
Two issues previously consulted on are not in the Bill - the planned changes to vetting requirements, and the College of
Educational Leadership.
“These matters have been deferred pending the results of the review of Tomorrow’s Schools and the upcoming review of
home based early learning services,” Chris Hipkins said.
Note to editor –
This Bill was previously going to be introduced as a part of a package of bills (Cognate bills) with the provision to
restore the skills leadership role of industry training organisations (ITO) as part of it, but the Parliamentary
Business Committee would not agree to this approach. The legislative mandate for ITOs to provide skills leadership for
their industries will now be part of other upcoming legislation.