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As your child approaches their fifth birthday you will, no doubt, be considering how they can get the best possible education for their vital first years at school as well as for the future.

These days it is common for parents to find out about schools that their child could attend before making a decision about enrolment.

These series of articles help you make that decision.  They explain the kinds of schools, classes and teaching there are for New Zealand five year olds and some of the words used to describe schools and classroom activities.

Principals and teachers are used to parents asking about their school and their programmes.  You may phone any school and make an appointment to visit the school, and to meet the principal and the teachers of five year olds.  You will be welcome to look around the classrooms and playgrounds and watch some lessons.

You may ask for explanations - principals and teachers are used to being asked questions and are keen for you to be involved in your child's schooling.  When parents know about school and are interested in their child's schooling there is a greater likelihood that children will be successful at school.

The Education Review Office (ERO) has people who go into all schools and classrooms to inspect the teaching and learning.  These reviewers see both the good schools and the less successful schools.  In this series of articles we have drawn on their comprehensive experience of the best new entrant classrooms so that you can benefit from this expertise.