school starting age in Victoria
everything you need to know about starting school in Victoria (VIC) — 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 Victoria, the first year of primary school is called Prep. children typically start at age 4 turning 5.
cutoff date
30 Aprilyour child must turn 5 by 30 April to start Prep that year. school becomes compulsory at 6 years old.
pre-school / kinder program
program name
age: 3-4 years4-year-old kindergarten (funded kinder)
cutoff: 30 April (must turn 4 by 30 April for 4-year-old kinder)
free kinder?
yesyes, free kinder for 3 and 4 year olds — 15 hours/week for 4yo, 5-15 hours for 3yo
can I delay my child starting school?
yes — parents can choose to delay Prep by one year. you can also apply for early entry if your child turns 5 between 1 May and 30 June, but this requires school approval.
things to know about starting school in VIC
- •Children must turn 5 by 30 April to start Prep that year.
- •Victoria is progressively rolling out universal free kinder — check the latest entitlements.
- •Pre-Prep programs are available at many primary schools for a smooth transition.
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 Victorian 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.