Starting school
Going to school for the first time is a big event for both you and your child. There are some things you will need to do to get prepared as your child gets ready to go to kindergarten (Kindy) or pre-primary.
You can also read about Community Health Nursing in Primary Schools (PDF).
Going to school
Children can start school at Kindy from around 4 years old, or even earlier from 3 years if a pre-Kindy is offered in your area.
To enrol your child at school, your child needs to be:
- 4 years old by 30 June for Kindy
- 5 years old by 30 June for pre-primary (compulsory)
Find out more about enrolling your child at a local public school.
Kindy is mostly play-based learning, helping children to:
- solve problems with other children and adults
- make friends
- complete tasks and activities
- follow simple rules and routines
- ask – and answer – questions
- do things on their own – but know they can ask for help
Getting school ready
There are lots of things you can do to prepare your child for school. This includes learning how to play, speaking and listening, and having a routine.
Read our top tips for a great start to school.
School Entry Health Assessment
The School Entry Health Assessment (SEHA) is a free health check offered to all children who are of school entry age. For most children, this will be in Kindy, but it can be done after school enrolment or before starting Kindy.
Read more about the School Entry Health Assessment.
Immunisation
Diseases that are preventable, such as the measles or the mumps, can be very serious for children and other members of our community.
At school, children are in close contact with each other and this can make diseases spread quickly between other children who are not fully vaccinated.
You can protect your child and our community by making sure that they are fully vaccinated.