Apply by Friday 24 July 2009.
Applications for enrolment forms can be submitted at your local public school any time before the closing date.
There is a place for your child:
To apply for a place for your child in a kindergarten or pre-primary program in a public school you need to complete an ‘Application for Enrolment’ form. These forms are available at your local public school or community kindergarten or can be printed from this page.
Forms only take a few moments to complete and should be submitted at only one school or community kindergarten before Friday 25 July 2008.
When you make an application for your child you need to make sure that:
Evidence of your child’s age and residential status is needed when making an application to enrol your child in a kindergarten or pre-primary program in a public school. This evidence includes:
Other documentation required when making an application is:
Although there is a place for every eligible child in kindergarten and pre-primary, an application does not guarantee enrolment at a particular school. Placement in a kindergarten or pre-primary program in a specific school is dependent on the number of places available at that school.
Please note that applications for enrolment are not considered on a first-come-first-served basis. If there are more applications than the number of places available at the school of your choice standard selection criteria are applied. Further information regarding this process can be obtained from your local District Education Office or the school.
Although attendance at kindergarten and pre-primary is not compulsory (in accordance with the School Education Act 1999) more that 90% of children in Western Australia attend kindergarten and 95% of children attend a pre-primary program.
The Department of Education and Training is committed to providing a place for all eligible children.
There are a number of brochures which provide information that may be helpful in supporting your child to make a smooth transition into a kindergarten or pre-primary program.
Starting kindergarten provides information about kindergarten programs at public schools.
Starting pre-primary provides information about pre-primary programs at public schools.
Some schools prefer to “phase in” children’s attendance at kindergarten during the first two weeks, and pre-primary during the first four weeks of the school year. However, if parents think that “phasing in” is not in their child’s best interest, then children can attend pre-primary on a full-time basis from the beginning of the school year and kindergarten for the equivalent of four half-days per week from the beginning of the school year.
| State/Territory | Entry age into program two years before Year One | Entry age into program one year before Year One | Entry age into Year One | Compulsory starting age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | 4 by 30 June. Single entry point at beginning of school year | 5 by 30 June. Single entry point at beginning of school year | 6 by 30 June. Single entry point at beginning of school year | The beginning of the school year in which the child reaches the age of 6 years 6 months |
| New South Wales | 4 by 31 July | 5 by 31 July | 6 by 31 July | 6th Birthday |
| Victoria | 4 by 30 April | 5 by 30 April | 6 by 30 April | 6th Birthday |
| Queensland | 5 y 30 June. Single entry point | 6 by 30 June. Single entry point | ||
| South Australia | Continuous entry after 4th birthday | Continuous entry after 5th birthday | Single entry in January after 2-5 terms in Reception depending on initial entry | 6th Birthday |
| Tasmania | 4 on or by 1 January in year of entry | 5 on or by 1 January in year of entry | 6 by 1 January | 5 on or by 1 January |
| ACT | 4 by 30 April in year of entry | 5 by 30 April |
6 by 30 April |
6th Birthday |
| Northern Territory | Continuous entry after 4th birthday | 4 years and 6 months by 1 January | 5 years and 6 months by 1 January | 6th Birthday |
| State/Territory | Name of program | Hours attended | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | Kindergarten | 11 hrs a week | Department of Education and Training |
| New South Wales | Pre-school | 12 hrs 30 mins a week | Dept of Education and Training; Dept. of Community Services |
| Victoria | Pre-school | 10 hrs a week | Dept of Education, Employment and Training |
| Queensland | Kindergarten | Up to 12 hrs 30 mins a week | Education Queensland; Community Kindergarten sector |
| South Australia | Kindergarten | 11 hrs a week | Dept of Education, Training and Employment |
| Tasmania | Kindergarten | 10 hrs a week | Dept of Education |
| ACT | Pre-school | 10 hrs 30 mins a week | Dept of Education and Training, Children's Services Branch |
| Northern Territory | Pre-school | 12 hrs a week | Department of Employment, Education and Training |
| State/Territory | Name of program | Days attended | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | Pre-primary | 5 | Department of Education and Training |
| New South Wales | Kindergarten | 5 | Department of Education and Training |
| Victoria | Preparatory | 5 | Dept of Education, Employment and Training |
| Queensland | Preschool | 5 half days | Education Queensland |
| South Australia | Reception | 5 | Dept of Education, Training and Employment |
| Tasmania | Preparatory (compulsory) |
5 | Dept of Education |
| ACT | Kindergarten | 5 | Dept of Education and Training |
| Northern Territory | Transition | 5 | Department of Employment, Education and Training |