Statewide timeline for Foundation (Prep) enrolments.
Steps to enrol your child in Foundation (Prep) for the 2027 school year
To start primary school in 2027, your child will need to turn 5 years old by 30 April 2027. Schooling is compulsory for children who have turned 6 years old. If your child is starting Foundation (Prep) in 2027, you will be able to apply to enrol your child in a Victorian government primary school from the start of Term 2, 2026 April 20th.
What you need to do:
- Use Find my School to locate your designated neighbourhood school (referred to as your local school) and other nearby government schools.
- Contact a government primary school to book a school tour or to learn more about the school and the enrolment application process.
- Download the ‘Foundation (Prep) Enrolment Information Pack for Parents and Carers.’ The pack will be available from Monday 20th April 2026 and will include an application form. The school may also provide you with a copy of the form to complete.
- Submit an enrolment application for Foundation (Prep) by 25 July 2026.
- You will be notified of the outcome of your application between 28 July and 8 August 2026. If you receive an enrolment offer, you should accept the offer by 22 August 2026.
- Take part in enrolment information and transition sessions during Term 4, 2026.
- Your child will start Foundation (Prep) from Thursday 28 January 2027
Enrolment applications submitted after 26 July 2026 will be processed by the school as they are received, in
accordance with the Department of Education’s Placement Policy.
Your child has a right to enrol at their local school. Your child’s local school is determined on the basis of their
permanent residential address. Visit Find my School to locate your child’s local school.
The enrolling in a school page can also help you to confirm your child’s address for enrolment.
If you are seeking to apply to enrol your child in a school that is not their local school, you should read
about school zones and how they work and how applications are prioritised using the Department of
Education’s Placement Policy found on the enrolling in a school page.