school starting age in Northern Territory
everything you need to know about starting school in Northern Territory (NT) — the first year of school is called Transition, and children typically start at age 4 turning 5.
school entry — Transition
first year of school
Transitionin Northern Territory, the first year of primary school is called Transition. children typically start at age 4 turning 5.
cutoff date
30 Juneyour child must turn 5 by 30 June to start Transition that year. school becomes compulsory at 6 years old.
pre-school / kinder program
program name
age: 3 turning 4 (turn 4 by 30 June)preschool (year before Transition at some schools)
cutoff: 30 June (must turn 4 by 30 June for preschool)
free kinder?
yesyes, free preschool program available at government schools
can I delay my child starting school?
yes — parents can delay Transition by one year. the NT is flexible with remote families — talk to the school about the best start time.
things to know about starting school in NT
- •Children must turn 5 by 30 June to start Transition that year.
- •The NT calls the first year of school 'Transition' — it is equivalent to Kindergarten/Prep in other states.
- •Remote communities may have different arrangements — contact your local school.
source: NT Department of Education
view all state school starting ages
the complete state-by-state guide
this guide is for informational purposes only. school starting ages and cutoff dates are based on publicly available information from NT Department of Education and were accurate at the time of writing. rules may change — always check the official source for the latest. mini mode is not affiliated with any government department.