Starting Kindergarten

When to start school

Your child can start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn five on or before 31 July in that year. By law, all children must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday.

When to start your child at school is an individual decision. You may want to discuss this with us or with your child's preschool teacher, carer or doctor.

Transition to school

We have a set of planned activities to assist your child to make a smooth transition to Kindergarten. Research indicates that children who settle quickly into school are more likely to be socially competent and achieve better results. 

What can I do to help the transition?

Please visit the website School AtoZ starting kindergarten for tips and tricks

• What happens in Kindergarten? 
  VIDEO: Kindergarten students show us what happens in a typical day in their classroom. Watch this with your child.
• Is your child ready to start school?
  VIDEO: Watch teachers talk about how you can decide if your child is ready to start Kindergarten.
• Helping kindy kids succeed at school
  There are many ways to help your child thrive when they start 'big' school.
• A happy start to school for kids with special needs
  Parents often ask what else they can do to help prepare their child for school. Here are some excellent ideas.
• Reading with your child at home
  Reading is more important than ever. When your kids see you reading and writing in everyday life, it teaches them they are useful skills to learn.
• How young kids learn to understand numbers
  The building blocks to maths begins with kids learning to count – eggs, pegs ... anything you can think of.
  
• Children thrive with parental involvement
  Turning the snags at the school sausage sizzle or sewing sequins on costumes for the school play has far more value than parents realise.
• Lunch box
  From salads to dips, sandwiches to vegetarian dishes, cakes, biscuits and treats, some of Australia's leading chefs share their lunch box ideas.
• Organising the home for a smooth school run
  AUDIO: Listen to Australia's domestic goddess Shannon Lush chat with James O'Loghlin on creating a well-oiled household.

Best Start kindergarten assessment

The best start assessment is a tool to help teachers assess your child's skills as they enter school, and to tailor teaching to their individual needs. Teachers will sit with your child when they start school to assess your child's literacy and numeracy skills so that they can develop an appropriate teaching program that caters for your child.