Primary School Enrolment
Most primary schools start taking enrolments in May each year, for the following year. Children must be five years of age or older by 30 April of the year they start school.
To enrol your child, schools need:
- evidence of your child’s date of birth
- names and addresses of the child and parents, guardians and carers
- parents’ phone numbers (home, work, mobile) and email addresses
- names and contact details of emergency contacts
- doctor’s and dentist’s names and phone numbers
- Immunisation Status Certificate
- health and welfare information (for example, does your child have asthma, diabetes, allergies, poor eyesight or hearing, specific custody arrangements)
- information about the language/s your child speaks and hears (to help the school build on your child's knowledge).
School staff will provide you with the appropriate enrolment forms and will organise an interpreter if required.
Many primary schools conduct an orientation day for pre-school students.
Prepare for the first day at school
It's common for parents to miss their child when they start school. But when parents feel positive about the school and participate in some way in their child’s education, the child is more likely to feel secure and happy and achieve better results.
There are things parents can do to ensure a smooth first day at school:
- Be prepared: Have some practice runs before school starts and encourage your child to organise clean clothes, books and bag. Be sure your child has a balanced breakfast and pack a healthy lunch and snacks.
- Dress for school: Look for easy fasteners and encourage your child to dress themselves, so they can manage things like taking jumpers on and off. Label all belongings and find out where lost property is held at school.
- Avoid a rush: Leave home on time and allow time to say goodbye. At first, you may stay a while to ensure your child feels secure, but once they have settled in, a short and reassuring goodbye encourages independence. Check what time school finishes and arrive in plenty of time to collect your child.
More information
For more information, you can contact the school, see: Schools Online (http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/schoolsonline) or Region
See also: Welcome to School: A Parent's Guide to Victorian Government Schools