school starting age in Western Australia
everything you need to know about starting school in Western Australia (WA) — the first year of school is called Pre-primary, and children typically start at age 4 turning 5.
school entry — Pre-primary
first year of school
Pre-primaryin Western Australia, the first year of primary school is called Pre-primary. children typically start at age 4 turning 5.
cutoff date
30 Juneyour child must turn 5 by 30 June to start Pre-primary that year. school becomes compulsory at 6 years old.
pre-school / kinder program
program name
age: 3 turning 4 (turn 4 by 30 June)Kindergarten (non-compulsory year before Pre-primary)
cutoff: 30 June (must turn 4 by 30 June for Kindergarten)
free kinder?
yesyes, free Kindergarten program for 4 year olds — 15 hours/week at public schools
can I delay my child starting school?
yes — parents can delay Pre-primary by one year. Pre-primary is compulsory, so children must be enrolled in the year they turn 6.
things to know about starting school in WA
- •Children must turn 5 by 30 June to start Pre-primary that year.
- •WA uses the term 'Kindergarten' for the year BEFORE Pre-primary (equivalent to 4yo kinder in VIC).
- •Pre-primary is the first compulsory year, equivalent to Prep/Kindergarten in other states.
source: WA Department of Education
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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 WA 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.