What is One Day School?
A One Day School is an educational programme or learning space that your child attends for
one day a week, whilst still attending their regular school or home-based education. This "one day" model is growing around NZ and falls within the guidelines of the Ministry of Education.
One Day Schools have a specific focus or purpose and offer specialised, child-centred support that addresses the current educational needs for individual children, their families and communities.
Our focus for Wild School is to nurture Wonder & Wellness through nature.
One Day Wild School
The below information is a brief outline of our weekly Wild School programme which operates during term time from various locations. For more detailed information we have created a "Useful Information" document for you to download and read as you wish. If you have further questions, please email whakatipuwildschool@gmail.com or contact Sarah on 021 160 6112
Our Daily Flow
Our Wonder & Wellness programme is play-based, child-led and no pressure.
Our experienced educators observe, notice and respond to learning in the moment,
sharing their knowledge, experience and encouragement to think, wonder, and develop
working theories. To complement spontaneous learning our educators plan group experiences that embrace the ever changing, seasonal learning environment. These experiences
promote collaboration & communication as we share and celebrate children as individuals.
A Typical Day
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Leader safety sweeps selected play space & sets boundary (prior to children arriving)
Drop off/Greeting families
Morning Hui (meeting) - Welcome, Risk/Hazard Awareness, Goal Setting
Short hikoi (walk) to site
Free Play - Children get involved in enhancing wild space with additional resources (ropes, swings, ziplines, slackline, hammock, tools, crafts etc.
Morning Kai (food) - Social chats & discussions about group interests.
Free Play/Discovery Time
Lunch - Reflection on the morning, sharing plans for the afternoon
Free Play/Creative Time
Group pack down - children help to pack away what we brought into the space
End of Day Hui (meeting) - Sharing our favourite experiences or learnings of the day while enjoying a warm fruit tea or a camp cooker made snack.
Return to pick up point
Meet with families, share about our days & farewell
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Our Wild Spaces
In the Whakatipu basin we are blessed with natural spaces that offer a kaleidoscope of learning opportunities waiting to be discovered. We aim to secure access to "wild spaces"
that have varying natural elements from forests and fields to mountains and rivers.
Each wild space has been carefully selected to suit the seasons, and have been thoroughly assessed for risks and learning benefits. As we use the land for learning, it is our duty to show respect and care for the land. To give these wild spaces opportunity to rejuvenate and minimise our environmental footprints our Wild School sessions will change locations on occasion.
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Term 2 2023
Wednesday Wild School - Frankton
Friday Wild School - Queenstown
Tuesday Wild Kindy - Frankton Scout Den
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When is Wild School?
Wild School operates in Term time only, Enrolments are for a full term.
Children attend one day a week, instead of attending a normal school day.
Session times are 9am - 3pm.
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Please click here to see our latest programmes
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Wild School Fees
$75 per session - Fees charged Termly
Payment options available on request
Fees must be paid prior to daily programme commencement to secure your child’s place.
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We are a local, independent, social enterprise entirely supported by local families and community and do not receive any Ministry of Education funding. All fees circle back into Wild School and keeping the vision alive and sustainable for years to come.
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Whanau of Learners
Wild School embodies a whanau of learners approach, where we encourage all whanau to be involved in the running of our programme. As we operate as a charity with our local community at heart,
we truly believe that experiences, learning and the benefits of Wild School are best embedded when shared with other whanau members. Therefore as part each child's enrolment into the Wild School programme, we require you or an adult family member to attend as a whanau kaiako (family teacher/guide), for 1 session per Term.
Release from School
As our programme operates during normal school hours, as an alternative education to the traditional school classroom, you are required to seek permission from your schools Principal or Board of Trustees.
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This process involves you getting in touch with your school Principal to let them know about your interest/intentions to enrol your child in Wild School. We recommend you explain why you want your child to attend and the benefits they will get from the programme in addition to School.
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We are not required to be registered under the Ministry of Education, we are a private charity working alongside schools in our region. We don't require any signed documents from schools (your agreement with the Principal can be verbal). The Principal is welcome to view our key documents, Health and Safety policy, and other policies on our website.
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For more detailed information and useful links around the benefits of nature play click here.