Location and arrival
227E Whitemans Valley Road, Mangaroa Farms, Upper Hutt
Please arrive at 10:15am.
The schoolhouse is up a gravel drive. If you’re unsure where to go, please contact us at: 027 696 4704. We will guide you from there.
Trial day purpose
During the day, we are not assessing academic ability.
We are observing things like:
How your child relates to others
How they engage with the environment
Their curiosity and comfort in the space
This helps us understand whether we can support them well here.
After the trial
After the day:
We’ll reflect as a team
We’ll be in touch within a few days
You’re welcome to share your thoughts as well
If it feels like a good fit, we’ll talk through next steps.
Trial Days at Earth School
A trial day is an opportunity for your child to experience a day at Earth School and for us to begin getting to know each other.
It helps us understand whether Earth School is a good fit for your child — and whether it feels right for your whānau.
What the day looks like
Each day follows a gentle rhythm rather than a fixed schedule.
Your child may experience:
Arrival and settling in
Morning circle
Outdoor exploration across the farm and forest
Creative or inquiry-based activities
Shared kai (morning tea / lunch)
Free play and social time
Closing circle
We spend much of the day outdoors, in all weather. Appropriate clothing and footwear is essential.
Preparing your child
It can help to let your child know:
They’ll be visiting a new place with new people
They don’t need to get anything “right”
It’s okay to feel shy or unsure at first
Our kaiako will support them to settle in at their own pace.
What to bring
Weather-appropriate clothing (warm layers / sunhat / rain gear)
Sturdy shoes or boots
Lunch and a water bottle
A change of clothes (recommended)
Being comfortable outdoors makes a big difference to how children experience the day.
Mangaroa Farms
✳︎
Place Based Learning
✳︎
Nature Based Education
✳︎
Community Building
✳︎
Nature is our lead teacher
Mangaroa Farms ✳︎ Place Based Learning ✳︎ Nature Based Education ✳︎ Community Building ✳︎ Nature is our lead teacher
A note
A trial day is not a guarantee of enrolment.
Earth School is a small, relational learning environment, and we take care to ensure it works well for each child and the group.
Questions
If you have any questions before your trial day, feel free to get in touch.