school starting age in Queensland
everything you need to know about starting school in Queensland (QLD) — the first year of school is called Prep, and children typically start at age 4 turning 5.
school entry — Prep
first year of school
Prepin Queensland, the first year of primary school is called Prep. children typically start at age 4 turning 5.
cutoff date
30 Juneyour child must turn 5 by 30 June to start Prep that year. school becomes compulsory at 6 years and 6 months.
pre-school / kinder program
program name
age: 3.5-4.5 years (turn 4 by 30 June)kindergarten (kindy) — approved program in the year before Prep
cutoff: 30 June (must turn 4 by 30 June for kindy)
free kinder?
yesyes, free kindy program — 15 hours/week in an approved program
can I delay my child starting school?
yes — parents can delay Prep by one year. children must be in compulsory schooling by 6.5 years old. if you want to delay, notify the school.
things to know about starting school in QLD
- •Children must turn 5 by 30 June to start Prep that year.
- •QLD distinguishes between 'kindy' (pre-Prep approved program) and 'Prep' (first year of school).
- •Compulsory school age in QLD is 6 years and 6 months, slightly older than other states.
source: Queensland Government 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 Queensland Government 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.