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Enrolling in Foundation (Prep)

How to enrol your child starting primary school in 2027 at a Victorian government school.

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Starting primary school is an exciting time for children, parents and carers. In Victoria, the first year of primary school is called Foundation or Prep.

To start Foundation (Prep) in 2027, your child will need to turn 5 years old by 30 April 2027. School is compulsory for children who have turned 6 years old.

Victorian government primary schools follow the same timeline to enrol children starting Foundation (Prep) in 2027.

The timeline does not apply to government specialist schools. For information about enrolling in a government specialist school, you should read Enrolling in school.

If you are seeking to enrol your child for the 2026 school year, you should also read Enrolling in school and contact a government primary school directly.

Steps to enrol your child for the 2027 school year

If your child is starting Foundation (Prep) in 2027, you will be able to apply for enrolment at a Victorian government primary school from the start of Term 2, 2026 (Monday 20 April 2026).

What you need to do:

  1. Visit the Find my School website to find your designated neighbourhood school (your local school) for 2027 and other nearby government schools.
  2. Contact a government primary school to book an optional school tour and learn more about the school and the enrolment application process.
  3. Download the Foundation (Prep) Enrolment Information Pack for Parents and Carers (released in Week 1, Term 2). This pack includes the application form.
  4. The school may also provide you with a copy of the application form to complete or advise if they are using online enrolment.
  5. Submit your enrolment application to the school by Friday 31 July 2026.
  6. You will be notified of the outcome of your application between Monday 3 August and Friday 14 August 2026. The letter from the school will include the next steps. If you receive an enrolment offer, you should respond to the offer by Friday 28 August 2026.

Enrolment applications submitted after 31 July 2026 will be processed by the school as they are received.

Your child has a right to enrol at their local school. Your child’s local school is determined by their permanent residential address. The Enrolling in school page can help you to confirm your child’s address for enrolment.

If you are applying to a school that is not your child’s local school, you should read about school zones and how they work. You should also read about how applications are prioritised using the Department of Education’s Placement Policy found on the Enrolling in school page.

Enrolment information pack and application form

The Foundation (Prep) Enrolment Information Pack for Parents and Carers provides detailed information about enrolling your child into Foundation (Prep) for the 2027 school year.

This pack includes a copy of the enrolment timeline and Frequently Asked Questions. It also includes an application form.

Before applying, make sure you contact the school to learn about their enrolment application process. The school will tell you whether to complete this application form or provide you with a link if they are using online enrolment (VicStudents(opens in a new window)).

Appeals

If you were unsuccessful in your application to a primary school, you can appeal. To appeal an enrolment decision, you should lodge a written appeal with the school using the Appeal Form. For further information and to access the Appeal Form, refer to the pack below, also available on the Enrolling in school(opens in a new window):

Additional supporting materials

A factsheet and poster, providing a summary of the Foundation (Prep) enrolment process for the 2027 school year, are also available. These materials provide an overview of the guidance outlined in the full enrolment information pack.

The factsheet includes key dates in the 2026 enrolment and appeals process.

The poster provides a step-by-step guide of the enrolment process (without any specific dates for enrolment).

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English

Albanian

Amharic

Arabic

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Bangla (Bengali)

Burmese

Chaldean Neo-Aramaic

Dari

Dinka

Farsi (Persian)

Hakha Chin

Hazaragi

Hindi

Indonesian

Japanese

Karenni

Khmer

Korean

Malay

Nepali

Nuer

Oromo

Pashto

Punjabi

Rohingya

Russian

Sgaw Karen (Karen)

Simplified Chinese

Sinhalese

Somali

Spanish

Swahili

Tamil

Thai

Tigrinya

Traditional Chinese

Turkish

Urdu

Vietnamese

Zo (Zomi)

Once your child is enrolled

Read our tips for starting primary school to learn how you can support your child.

Further advice

If you have questions, contact a government primary school or a Community Liaison Officer in the Department of Education.

Education & trainingParents & carers

Updated 26 March 2026

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