STARTING SCHOOL
Starting school is a big step. We’ll help you feel prepared.
What applies to your learner depends on where you live, how old they are and the schools you’re considering. EduTrail helps you understand what applies and what to do next.
See how EduTrail can helpTwo things that are easy to mix up
When they’re eligible to start
Set by your state or territory.
When you need to apply
Set by each school, and sometimes much earlier.
When can my learner start school?
If you’ve already told us where you live, it’s picked for you.
Victoria · First year of school
Foundation (also called Prep)
- Eligible to start
- If they turn 5 by 30 April that year.
- Compulsory schooling
- Once they turn 6.
- School-specific requirements
- This is the government rule. Individual schools, particularly Catholic and independent schools, may set their own starting age and admission process.
Considering a particular school? We’ll help you check its own entry requirements.
When could your learner start, and when is school compulsory?
That’s the school-starting date in Victoria. We don’t ask for a date of birth, and nothing is saved.
Worked out from the VIC government rule above. A Catholic or independent school may set its own.
Practical next steps in Victoria
The things families most often find out about late. None of them needs doing today.
Find schools near you
See the government, Catholic and independent primary schools around your address, and what each one says about entry.
Find schools near youCheck your enrolment zone
A government school place in VIC depends on your home address and the school's enrolment zone. Check your address before you count on a place at your nearest government school.
Find my School (opens in a new tab)Before and after school care
Care before and after school (often called OSHC) is usually booked separately from enrolling, and is often run by a separate provider. A school place doesn’t guarantee a care place, and where demand is high the service decides who gets priority. Ask each school who runs its care and when to book.
Source: Queensland Government: Before and after school care (opens in a new tab)
What can follow them into school
Transition Learning and Development Statement
Funded kindergartens prepare one for every child starting school. Families write their own section, and can choose not to have it shared with the school.
Source: Victorian Government: Transition Learning and Development Statements (opens in a new tab)
Last checked: 21 October 2026
How early should I start thinking about schools?
It depends on the schools you’re considering.
Considering a government school?
Most of it happens in the year before school
- Find your local or designated school
- Check whether it uses a zone, catchment or priority area
- Check VIC’s enrolment timing
- Go to a tour or open day
- Get your documents ready
- Ask about out-of-area places if you’re looking further afield
Considering a Catholic or independent school?
Check each school’s own process
These schools don’t all work the same way, and not every one needs an early application.
- When applications can be lodged
- Whether there’s a waiting list
- Its main entry years
- Any priority for siblings, past students’ families or staff
- Its own starting-age rule
- Application fees, deposits and key dates
- Any early learning or preschool program it runs
The aim isn’t to apply everywhere early. It’s to understand each school’s process in time, so you don’t close off an option by accident.
Earlier than you might expect
Where a school has early applications, a waiting list or an early learning program.
The year before school
For most families: tours, eligibility, applications and offers.
Before the first day
Orientation and getting ready.
Actual timing varies by state and school. EduTrail can show what applies to your learner.
Could you need to start even earlier?
Only if a school you’re considering works one of these ways. Open the ones that sound like a school on your list.
Some schools run programs for 3 or 4 year olds. Depending on the state and school, these may be called preschool, kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, early learning, an early learning centre, or a 3-year-old or 4-year-old program.
Schools connect these programs to school entry in different ways:
- the place continues into the first year of school
- children get priority or preference, but not a guaranteed place
- you apply for school separately
- attending makes no difference to a school place
Ask each school which applies. Attending doesn’t guarantee a school place.
Some schools take applications well before the start year and keep a waiting list. Applying early doesn’t by itself guarantee a place, and lists aren’t always worked through in the order people applied.
A school may consider things like:
- when you applied
- a sibling at the school
- family who went there
- a parent who works there
- the year your learner would join
- how many places there are
- whether it’s co-ed, boys or girls
- its own priorities
Every school sets its own criteria. Ask for them.
Some schools have particular years when more places are available. The pattern varies by school. For example:
- Early learning
- First year of school
- Later primary
- Year 7
An illustration, not a rule.
If one entry point doesn’t work, there may be another opportunity later.
When we know a school’s main entry years, your plan shows them.
What else should I check?
These can affect enrolment. None of them works the same way at every school.
Application timing
When applications open and close. Some schools also consider when you applied.
Family connection
Some schools give consideration or priority to siblings, past students’ families or children of staff. Policies vary, and it isn’t a guarantee.
Location
Government schools may use zones, catchments, priority enrolment areas or other arrangements, depending on the state.
Gender and school structure
A school may be co-ed, boys-only or girls-only, or organised differently at different stages or campuses.
Does your learner need additional support?
It can help to talk with the schools you’re considering early, so they can plan with you before the first day.
- Accessibility
- Reasonable adjustments
- Health needs
- Language needs
- Learning support
- Help settling in
What if we can choose between two starting years?
There isn’t one right age, and we won’t recommend one. These are the things families usually weigh up.
- How they’re developing overall
- Social and emotional confidence
- What their early childhood educator sees
- Any additional support needs
- The school’s own entry requirements
- Your family’s circumstances
Starting school isn’t a test. Being ready isn’t measured by reading, writing, counting or sitting still.
- How do they get on with other children?
- How do they manage routines, and things that are new?
- How do they let you know when they need help?
- What would help them most over the next year?
- Is there anything you’d want a school to know?
- What age do children need to be to start here?
- If we start a year later, would there still be a place?
- How does your early learning program connect to school entry, if you have one?
- How do you help children settle in their first term?
- Who can we talk to about support needs before they start?
What will their first year be like?
The exact curriculum differs by state and school, but the first year is about much more than learning to read and count.
Communication and literacy
Stories, speaking, listening, sounds, letters, and beginning to read and create texts.
Early numeracy
Numbers, patterns, shapes, measuring and everyday problem-solving.
Learning through play and exploration
Experimenting, asking questions, being creative and learning hands-on with others.
Belonging and independence
Relationships, routines, feelings, working with others and doing more for themselves.
Helping your learner make a positive start
Starting school is a transition, not an academic test.
- Go to orientation or transition activities
- Help them get to know the school
- Talk about starting school positively and honestly
- Share any support or health information with the school
- Practise everyday routines and doing things for themselves
THREE STAGES
What do I need to organise?
Explore, apply, prepare. Your plan turns each stage into the tasks and dates for your learner.
Explore
- Understand your school options
- Government, Catholic and independent, where relevant
- Tours and open days
- Location and enrolment area
- Main entry years
- Earlier learning programs, where relevant
Apply
- Confirm eligibility
- Check each school’s own requirements
- Application and enrolment dates
- Get documents ready
- Fees and deposits, where relevant
- Offers and reply dates
Prepare
- Orientation and transition
- Before and after school care
- Uniform and equipment
- Getting there and back
- Health and support information
- Getting to know the school
See how EduTrail makes this personal
Your plan is built from where you live, your learner’s age and the schools you’re considering. It shows what matters now, and brings the rest forward when it’s time.
Create my learner’s planFree. Nothing is shared with a school.
Victoria · Starting school 2029
EXAMPLESchool A applications are open.
This school considers application timing.
School B early learning program
Applications open next year. We’ll remind you.
Government Foundation enrolment
Nothing required yet. We’ll let you know when the enrolment period is close.
An illustration. Your plan uses your own state, start year and schools.
Common questions
It depends on your state or territory, and when your learner turns 5. Choose where you live at the top of this page to see the rule that applies.
Not always. Government schools follow the state rule. Catholic and independent schools can set their own, so check each school you’re considering.
In some states, yes, as long as your learner is at school by the compulsory age. The rules differ, so check your state above and talk with their educator and the school.
For most families, the year before school. If a school you’re considering has early applications, a waiting list or an early learning program, look into its process sooner.
Each school sets its own dates. Some open applications years ahead, others in the year before school. Check each school’s own enrolment information.
Not necessarily. Some schools consider when you applied, but many also weigh siblings, family connection, available places or their own priorities.
Each school runs its own. Being on a list isn’t the same as being offered a place, and places aren’t always offered in the order people applied. Ask the school how it decides.
At many schools, but not all, and how much it counts varies. Check the school’s enrolment policy.
Some schools give consideration to families of past students or staff. Others don’t. Ask the school.
It depends on the school. A place may continue into school, give priority only, need a separate application, or make no difference. Attending doesn’t guarantee a school place.
The years a school takes most of its new students. They differ from school to school. If one doesn’t work out, there may be another later.
They can, for government schools. Depending on your state, government schools may use zones, catchments or priority enrolment areas. Catholic and independent schools set their own criteria.
The starting rules and the name of the first year differ between states, so your learner could be in a different year level from what you expected. Talk with the new school.
Talk with the schools you’re considering early, so they can plan adjustments, health care or transition support with you.
Yes. A Catholic or independent school can set its own, so a state rule doesn’t tell you what a particular school will accept.
Know what’s next for your learner.
Create a personalised plan based on where you live, your learner’s age and the schools you’re considering.