Preschool enrolment
The department currently operates 100 preschools in NSW public schools, providing an early childhood program for children one year before Kindergarten. Here you can find out the age at which your child is eligible to enrol in a NSW government preschool, when to enrol and how to go about making an application.
When to enrol in preschool
Children are eligible to enrol in NSW public preschools if they turn four on or before 31 July of that year. Applications for next year are taken from Term 2 of the current school year.
The preschool follows eligibility criteria set out in the department's preschool enrolment procedures. First priority is given to children who live within the school's local area. If the number of applicants exceeds the places available, the school's placement panel will consider each application and make recommendations for placement according to the department's eligibility criteria and priority. Priority is given to children from disadvantaged backgrounds who are unable to access other children's services and, in particular, those families who experience financial hardship and children of Aboriginal descent.
Enrolment appointments
Please contact your NSW public preschool of choice to make an appointment to discuss your child's potential enrolment. You will be asked to bring these documents with you to the appointment:
- your child's birth certificate or identity documents
- proof of your child's address - originals of different documents such as your council rates notice or residential lease and electricity bill
- low income health care card (if applicable)
- family law or relevant court orders (if applicable).
If your child has special circumstances, allergies, health or medical conditions, it's important that you tell the principal about these before your child starts preschool.
