Foundation Enrolment - Starting School

2027 Foundation (Prep) enrolments

For information about Foundation at IPS, please have a read of our 2025 Foundation Information Booklet.

Starting primary school is an exciting time for children, parents and carers. In Victoria, the first year of primary school is called Foundation or Prep.

To start Foundation (Prep) in 2027, your child will need to turn 5 years old by 30 April 2027. School is compulsory for children who have turned 6 years old.

Victorian government primary schools follow the same timeline to enrol children starting Foundation (Prep) in 2027.

Steps to enrol your child for the 2027 school year

If your child is starting Foundation (Prep) in 2027, you will be able to apply for enrolment at a Victorian government primary school from the start of Term 2, 2026 (Monday 20 April 2026).

What you need to do:

Visit the Find my School website to find your designated neighbourhood school (your local school) for 2027 and other nearby government schools.
Contact us on 5265 1340 to book an optional school tour and learn more about the school and the enrolment application process.
Download the Foundation (Prep) Enrolment Information Pack for Parents and Carers (released in Week 1, Term 2). This pack includes the application form.
The school may also provide you with a copy of the application form to complete or advise if they are using online enrolment.
Submit your enrolment application to the school by Friday 31 July 2026.
You will be notified of the outcome of your application between Monday 3 August and Friday 14 August 2026. The letter from the school will include the next steps. If you receive an enrolment offer, you should respond to the offer by Friday 28 August 2026.

Enrolment applications submitted after 31 July 2026 will be processed by the school as they are received.

Your child has a right to enrol at their local school. Your child’s local school is determined by their permanent residential address. The Enrolling in school page can help you to confirm your child’s address for enrolment.

If you are applying to a school that is not your child's local school, you should read about school zones and how they work. You should also read about how applications are prioritised using the Department of Education’s Placement Policy found on the Enrolling in school page.

When submitting your enrolment form please provide the school with a copy of:

Birth Certificate
Your child must be at least 5 years of age by the 30th of April 2025. It is a condition of enrolment that the school receives a copy of your child’s birth certificate.
Immunisation Certificate/Statement
Immunisation certificate/statement must include 4-year-old vaccinations. It is a condition of enrolment that the school receives a copy of your immunisation certificate. These can be obtained via your Medicare online account.

When to enrol in primary school

To start primary school your child will need to turn 5 years old by 30 April in the year that they start school.

Your child must be at school in the year that they turn 6 years of age. This is the compulsory school starting age.

The first year of primary school is called Foundation or Prep. Read more about when and how to enrol your child in the first year of primary school at enrolling in Foundation (Prep).

If you need to enrol at a different time or year level, contact the primary school.

Your child has a right to enrol at their local school. Your child’s local school is determined on the basis of their permanent residential address. Visit Find my School to locate your child’s local school. The enrolling in a school page can also help you to confirm your child’s address for enrolment.

If you are seeking to apply to enrol your child in a school that is not their local school, you should read about school zones and how they work and how applications are prioritised using the Department of Education’s Placement Policy found on the enrolling in a school page.

Please find enrolment forms and more information under the Enrolment tab.

School Tours for 2027 Families – Please contact the office on 5265 1340 to arrange a time for a tour.

Our school zone

Our school zone is available on findmyschool.vic.gov.au which hosts the most up-to-date information on school zones in Victoria.

Students residing within our school zone are guaranteed a place at our school, which is determined based on your permanent residential address.

Our school manages enrolments using the Placement Policy to ensure that students have access to their designated neighbourhood school and may enrol at another school, if there are available places.

For more information, you can: