School Start First Impressions Marlborough

School Start First Impressions Marlborough works to reduce the impact of poverty on the education of Marlborough children. We have identified that a child’s 5th birthday and entry to school presents an impossible challenge to Marlborough families in financial crisis.

The cost of equipping a child for school can be financially prohibitive for Marlborough families in financial crisis. Significant financial pressure on their family can influence a child’s self-esteem, their experience of school, and their ability to focus on learning.

Our initiative is designed to give Marlborough’s at-risk 5-year-olds the opportunity to commence school on an equal footing with their peers, enable them to embrace the challenge of school, focus on learning, and give them a chance to be the best that they can be.

We hope to help these children gain confidence and a sense of belonging as they move from the Ministry of Education’s early childhood curriculum principles, Te Whāriki, to the New Zealand curriculum.

School Start First Impressions Marlborough is dedicated to making the school transition successful for Marlborough’s at-risk 5-year-olds. We achieve this on two fronts.

First, the child is celebrated on their 5th birthday to demonstrate how important they are to their family, their school, and our community.

Second, the child is equipped with a uniform, lunchbox, school donation, books, pencils, and other essential school start supplies.

We provide a 5 Kitbox to children turning 5 whose families are experiencing significant financial hardship. The kit contains everything a child needs to celebrate their 5th birthday and commence school.