Starting School in Australia
Year 1 would normally be considered the first year of Schooling, however, most Australia States have a year or two before Year 1.
The school year normally starts in late January or early February after the summer vacation period.
Queensland:
In 2007 Prep replaced preschool as the first year of school. Children must be 5 by 30 June in the year they enrol.
A child is considered to be of compulsory school age from 6 years and 6 months.
QLD has ‘Prep’ the year before year 1, although not compulsory, 98% of Year 1 students in 2015 attended a year of schooling before commencing Year 1. Â It is intended to be compulsory from 2017, to catch the odd 500 that missed out.
New South Wales:
Your child can start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn five on or before 31 July in that year.
By law, all children must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday.
Optional Preschools in public schools provide play-based activities/educational programs for children one year prior to enrolment in Kindergarten.
A child may be eligible for enrolment in ‘preschool’ from the beginning of the school year if they turn four years on or before 31 July that year.
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NSW has ‘Kindergarten’ the year before year 1
Tasmania:
The compulsory school starting age is five years.
This means that a child who is at least five years old as at January 1 in any year must be enrolled in full-time Prep at a school or provided with home education.
TAS has both Prep and Kindergarten in years before year 1
Kindergarten: Children must have attained the minimum age of 4 years 0 months on, or by 1 January, in the year of admission.
Prep: Minimum age of enrolment directly into preparatory (Prep) is 5 years 0 months on, or by 1 January, in the year of admission.
Year 1: Minimum age of enrolment directly into Year 1 is 6 years 0 months on, or by 1 January, in the year of admission.
Looking at the NSW and QLD starting ages:
QLD Prep: Children must be 5 by 30 June in the year they enrol.
NSW Kinder: start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn five on or before 31 July in that year.
A NSW or QLD child turning 5 between January and June 2016 would start in 2016
A NSW child turning 5 in July 2016 would start in 2016
A QLD child turning 5 in July 2016 would start in 2017
A NSW or QLD child turning 5 between August and December 2016 would start in 2017