Enrolment Information
Starting school is an exciting time for children and their families. We strive to make the transition to Ilam School as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
We have strong relationships with local preschools and plenty of experience helping families from other parts of the country and overseas settle into our neighbourhood. We’d love your child to be part of our kura (school).
Here’s how to enrol your child:
Step 1
Read our School Prospectus. It is full of up-to-date information about our school.
Step 2
Complete the online Enrolment Form. We also need copies of supporting documents (like birth certificates, passports, proof of address etc) before we can confirm the enrolment — these can be emailed or delivered to the school office.
Step 3
If you have questions with Steps 1 or 2, simply email sueellen.smith@ilam.school.nz or phone the school office — we are happy to help.
Step 4
Once we’ve received your Enrolment Form and supporting documents, we will contact you.
For more answers to your questions visit our A to Z page.
Out-of-Zone
Out-of-Zone Enrolments & Ballot Information
We are pleased to have up to 30 spaces available for out-of-zone students in Years 0-3 for Term 3 and 4.
If you live outside our school zone, securing a place depends entirely on vacancy availability. Each term, the Board determines how many out-of-zone places will be open for the following term.
To enter your child into the ballot, please complete the Out of Zone Ballot Form. Applications must be submitted before the specified deadline for your target term.
Key Dates & Deadlines (2026 / 2027)
Term 3, 2026: Application deadline is Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
Term 4, 2026: Application deadline is Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
2027 Enrolments: Availability and deadlines for all 2027 terms will be advised during Term 4, 2026.
Next Steps After the Ballot
Notification: You will receive an email within three days of the ballot date letting you know if your application was successful.
Acceptance: Families have 14 days from the date of notification to accept or decline an offered place.
Priority Groups
Applications are strictly processed in the following order of priority, as required by Section 11 A (1) of the Education Act 1989:
First Priority: Students accepted into a school-run special programme (Note: Not applicable at our school).
Second Priority: Siblings of current students.
Third Priority: Siblings of former students.
Fourth Priority: Children of former students.
Fifth Priority: Children of board employees or board members.
Sixth Priority: All other applicants.
Note on Selection: If there are more applicants within a priority group than available places, selection will be decided by a supervised ballot conducted under official Ministry of Education instructions.
Do I live in zone?
Do you live in the Ilam School enrolment zone? Check out the Zone Map.
Cohort Entry for 5-year-olds
Ilam School operates cohort (group) entry for new entrants. Rather than starting on their fifth birthday, children start school in small groups at the next available intake.
The 2026 entry dates are:
Term 1
2 February
9 March
Term 2
20 April
1 June
Term 3
20 July
24 August
Term 4
12 October
10 November
When should my child start school?
If you are unsure when to start your child in school, please ask us.
Ilam OSCAR
Do you need help with childcare either before or after school, or during the school holidays?
Ilam OSCAR may be able to help — Ilam School hosts this on-site programme to assist families with childcare.
More information can be found here.
