[ Momona te whānau ]At Oakura School, children in the Momona te whānau learn through play. This supports a positive transition from early childhood education and kindergarten into school.
In the Penguin and Gecko Rooms, kaiako work with small groups for reading, writing and maths while other children take part in a range of play-based activities. Through these experiences, tamariki develop oral language, social skills, creativity and confidence while building strong foundations for learning.
As learners move through Momona te whānau, play continues alongside more structured learning. In Years 1–2, there is a balance of teacher-led time and purposeful play to support literacy, maths and inquiry. By Year 3, students show greater independence and spend more time in focused classroom work, with hands-on, collaborative opportunities to encourage creativity, problem-solving and engagement.