Starting primary school

To help determine if a school is the best fit for you and your child, you could:

Depending on the number of schools in your local enrolment area, you may want to consider these factors before deciding on a primary school for your child:

• the school’s reputation in the local community 
• its location and how close it is to where you live and public transport
• any specific educational programs or curriculum focus, like catering for children with a disability or additional learning needs
• the availability of special religion or ethics classes
• services for students from non-English speaking backgrounds
• the general condition of the buildings, classrooms and playgrounds
• before and after school care (BASC) as well as any vacation care options

Schools can accept enrolments from parents who live outside that school’s local enrolment area if places are available.

But there is no guarantee that your application will be successful.

Applications from parents outside a local enrolment area are usually assessed on a range of criteria, including:

• if siblings are already enrolled at the school
• if you have a child with disability or additional needs that are better met at this school
• medical reasons such as improved access to specialist local health services
• special interests and abilities such as language or music classes

Most public primary schools in NSW provide a range of enrolment and support options for children with disability or additional learning needs.

There is also a number of schools designated for specific purposes (SSPs) that offer specialised levels of support.

To find out more about what disability services, support classes and SSP placements might be available in your child’s local school:

• make an appointment with the school’s principal to discuss your child’s needs at least 12 to 18 months prior to your child starting school
• if your child is less than 4 years old, contact the NSW Educational Services Team on 131 536 to discuss the options and services available

The Raising Children website, which is supported by the Department of Social Services, has information on choosing, enrolling and support options for children with a disability and their schooling.

Along with the completed application to enrol form, there are usually several supporting documents that will need to be provided, depending on your circumstances, including:

• a child's birth certificate or identity documents
• proof of child's residential address (PDF 80KB)
• an immunisation statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
• any family law or other court orders
• copies of medical/healthcare or emergency action plan 
• evidence of any disability and learning and support plans if your child has health, disability or additional needs

You need to have confirmation of your place at a school before applying for any before or after school care (BASC) options. 

The School Finder can filter your search to identify schools and list the BASC services they offer.

You can also check the school’s website for more detailed information about:

• what type of care is provided
• where the care centre is located as it may not be on the school grounds
• its operating hours

Parents are required to provide an immunisation certificate when enrolling their child at a primary school. 

The NSW Immunisation Schedule (PDF) outlines what vaccinations parents and carers need to be up to date with for their children.

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) records all your child’s vaccinations.

Some children may be exempt from vaccinations due to medical reasons or natural immunity. This will still be captured on their immunisation history statement as ‘up to date’. 

If you choose not to vaccinate your child, you can still enrol them without an immunisation certificate.

However, if there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease, your child may be asked to stay at home until it is safe to return to school.

All government schools offer a range of classes in religious education or ethics. The actual classes available will vary between schools but will generally cover:

• instruction in a specific religion that is delivered by approved representatives of that religion
• religious education that looks more generally at the world’s major religions and how those beliefs affect lives
• ethics classes

Parents can also choose not to send their children to any religious or ethics classes. In that case, students attend other supervised activities such as reading, study or homework.

A separate form indicating your preference will be provided by the school. You will need to complete and submit this as part of the enrolment process. Contact your school for more details. 

Some public primary schools in NSW offer programs for international students. 

Generally only 2 years of study is available at primary school level. Other eligibility rules apply. Depending on the age of the student there may also be English language requirements.

Find out more about programs for overseas students and temporary residents enrolling in a NSW government school at DE International.

Temporary 457 and 482 visa holders

If you are a parent with a temporary resident visa and want to send your child to a public primary school in NSW, fees apply depending on the age of your child.

However, you may be eligible for an exemption or a refund depending on your situation.

You can learn more about visa and enrolment requirements at the Temporary Residents Program. 

For a child with disability or additional learning and support needs, parents or carers should meet with their local school principal at least 12 to 18 months prior to starting school to discuss and assess:

• any reports from medical experts, therapists or other health care agencies
• details of any assistive equipment and devices used or required for day to day activities
• the school's resources and procedures to address specific student health issues like asthma, anaphylaxis, epilepsy or ADHD

Students with a confirmed disability can be enrolled in different types of classes, subject to any placement panel assessments, including:

• regular classes
• support classes in regular schools
• special schools

Schools can accept enrolments from parents who live outside that school’s local enrolment area if places are available.

But there is no guarantee that your application will be successful.

Applications from parents outside a local enrolment area are usually assessed on a range of criteria, including:

• if siblings are already enrolled at the school
• if you have a child with disability or additional needs that are better met at this school
• medical reasons such as improved access to specialist local health services
• special interests and abilities such as language or music classes

If a non-local enrolment is refused

If you enrolled at a primary school outside your local enrolment area and were not offered a place, you can appeal the decision.

Check with the school to find out what their process is, but it will generally require you to write a letter to the principal outlining the reasons why you’re appealing the decision.

If you are not satisfied by the outcome of that letter, the matter can then be referred to a local principals network or similar independent body to make a final decision.

In general, development happens in the same order in most children, but skills might evolve at different ages or times. Differences among children are usually nothing to worry about.

In the early years, your child’s main way of learning and developing is through play. It's a great relationship builder. Play helps children learn about who they are and where they fit in the world.

If you feel that something isn’t quite right with your child’s development, trust your instinct. See your family health nurse, GP or paediatrician.

Raising Children is an Australian parenting website supported by the Department of Social Services. It provides a list of key points explaining:

• what's happening with children at 4-5 years
• things to help parent a preschooler
• when to be concerned about your child's development

There are 5 keys areas of learning where parents and educators can play a part in helping preschoolers achieve developmental milestones as they transition to primary school:

• physical
• social
• emotional
• cognitive
• language

Preschools can play a big part in developing school readiness. At preschool your child can learn through play, make friends, and develop responsibility, independence and confidence. 

Additionally, most primary schools offer a transition program. This might be several sessions a week over several weeks or a full term in the lead up to them starting school. Check while enrolling what and when any transition programs are held. 

Transition type programs can often help future students:

• feel more confident about the step up to primary school
• make new friends and expand their social interaction skills
• become more familiar and comfortable with new surroundings and routines

Practical preparations ahead of the first day of school can help ease any nerves or anxiety your child might feel, including:

• organising and trying on uniforms and shoes
• packing lunch boxes 
• testing out their backpacks
• practise walking or travelling to and from school
• getting to know other students beforehand

Raising Children, the Australian parenting website supported by the Department of Social Services, provides a list of key points and actions to consider when preparing your child for primary school that covers:

• getting familiar with your child’s new school
• talking and managing feelings about starting school

Things can change considerably for families when a child officially become a student. New places, new people and new rules for them can mean new routines for everyone.

Suggestions to help first-time students adapt to their new school environment include:

• starting with a healthy breakfast, as well as packing a healthy lunch box with familiar foods in an easy-to-eat format
• reading books together that encourage positive feelings about school
• talking with siblings, relations or others who are enjoying school
• sharing your own experiences starting school so your child knows being nervous is okay
• being consistent in how you travel to and from school 
• keeping to similar times and locations when dropping off and picking up from school

Developing a routine and having a set place and time to do homework can help children of any age reinforce work done in class and consolidate learning methods.

Even if there is no homework set, consider reading with your child to help with language development and to expand their vocabulary. Some reading strategies could include:

• listening to your child read regularly, even if only for a short time
• talking about books and discussing the meaning of stories and words
• joining your local library for a wider book selection, learning activities and events

Find more information about parenting and child learning at:

• NSW Department of Education with tips on helping your child with homework
• the Australian government’s Learning potential website and app

Parents and carers have an opportunity to act as role models to show children what it means to be a responsible pedestrian, passenger, cyclist or driver.

Children new to school need to become familiar with:

• what a school zone means
• drop-off and pick-up locations
• rules applying to pedestrian and school crossings

The Safety Town website from Transport NSW has a range of learning activities that parents and carers can use to support better road safety awareness for their children.

The more involved you can be as a parent or carer in your school can have a positive impact on your child’s learning and behaviour as they get used to this new stage of their life.

Possible benefits of teacher/parent collaboration to support a child's learning can include:

• a eagerness to attend regularly if they were feeling a little reluctant to begin with
• enhanced social and relationship skills
• a greater sense of personal wellbeing and security

Ways to get involved

Becoming part of your school’s community can help you connect with other parents and staff. You can participate by:

• joining social media channels like your school’s Facebook group to find out what’s going on and connect with other parents
• volunteering for the school canteen, excursions, events or committees
• contributing to any school council, parent club or local parents and citizens (P&C) group

Many people, not only parents, can contribute to supporting students with disability and additional learning needs.

This collaborative, personalised approach using a range of teaching and learning professionals can help ensure every student receives a dignified education.

If you have concerns about your child’s development or progress at school, it’s important to discuss these as soon as practical with the relevant people, including:

• the school principal, teacher or counsellor
• your family doctor or child’s paediatrician

There are also interpreter services and Aboriginal education assistants available to parents and carers.

There are a number of federal and state government payments you may be eligible for that can help cover the cost of sending your child to school, including:

• Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
• Parenting Payment

Child care subsidy

For help with the costs of care before and after school hours, including vacation care, Services Australia offers 2 benefits as part of its Child Care Subsidy program.

Eligibility requirements and the amount you receive depends on your circumstances, but will usually take into account:

• your family's income
• the hourly rate cap based on the type of approved child care you use and your child’s age
• the hours of activity you and your partner do

Children with disability or additional learning needs have the same rights to education as all other children.

The NDIS can fund reasonable and necessary costs that enables a child with a disability to go to school, including:

• support with daily living activities at school like eating and getting around
• specialised training of teachers
• non-educational therapies delivered during school time

The Creative Kids program is a one-off voucher payment to eligible parents and carers of up to $100 per calendar year. 

The voucher can be used with a registered provider to pay for a range of activities, covering:

• creative arts
• drama and dance
• digital design and coding
• music lessons

The Active Kids program provides two $100 vouchers for parents, guardians and carers of children enrolled in school to use towards sport and recreation costs each year.

The first voucher is available from 1 January, and the second voucher is available from 1 July. Both expire on 31 December.

Vouchers can be used to cover costs related to:

• registration
• membership and participation
• swimming lessons

They cannot be used for clothing or equipment purchases, nor for travel to and from the venue where the activity or competition takes place.

There is a range of free or reduced cost transport services available to help children get to and from school. 

Special eligibility conditions may apply depending on your child’s age and the distance you live from the school. 

Check with your school for more information on the most suitable public transport option for your circumstances.

Transport NSW provides several options for eligible students as part of the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), including the:

• School Opal card for free travel on approved metro, train, bus, ferry and light rail services during school term
• School term bus passes for students who may not qualify for free school travel
• School drive subsidy to help cover the cost of using a private vehicle in areas where no public transport is available

Other school transport programs

Families who have a child with disability or additional learning needs may be eligible for help through the Assisted School Travel Program (ASTP).

Children living in remote areas can get the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme from Services Australia.