Parent guide
Starting Kindergarten in NSW in 2027: Dates, Enrolment and the First 8 Weeks
Who starts in 2027, what to do if you are still choosing a school, orientation and care in Term 4, and a dated plan to the Best Start deadline in March.
If your child starts Kindergarten in 2027, the next few months are busier than they look. Orientation runs through Term 4, before and after school care is booked separately, and the first day of class is not the date printed at the top of the term calendar.
Most of what you need is spread across a school's own page, a Department calendar, a care provider's website and an assessment guide written for teachers. Here it is in one place, with the dates for 2026 and 2027, and what to do if you are still deciding on a school.
Is your child starting in 2027?
In NSW a child can start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year. Separately, every child must be in compulsory schooling by their 6th birthday.
| Birthday | Can start in 2027? | Latest start |
|---|---|---|
| On or before 31 July 2022 | Yes | By their 6th birthday |
| 1 August 2022 or later | No, 2028 is the first possible year | By their 6th birthday |
A child born between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022 is eligible for 2027. A child with a birthday in the second half of that range will be one of the youngest in the class. A child born in August 2021 was too young to start in 2026 and turns 6 in August 2027, so 2027 is their year either way.
Still choosing a school in Term 4
It is not too late. Schools generally start accepting enrolments for the next year in the second half of this year, and your local public school must take a child who lives in its intake area.
2 rules shape what you can do from here:
- Only 1 enrolment at a time. A child should only be enrolled at one school. If you are weighing a Catholic or independent school against your local public school, settle the choice before you finalise either enrolment.
- Out-of-area places depend on room. Applying to a public school outside your catchment only works if it has places left after local enrolments. In Term 4, a popular school may have none.
If you are still comparing, focus on what your child will live with every day: the walk or drive, before and after school care, class sizes, and how the school talks to families.
The documents to have ready
For a new enrolment at a NSW public school, you will need 3 core documents:
- Your child's birth certificate or other identity documents.
- Proof of your child's address, such as a council rates notice, lease or electricity bill.
- An immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register.
Add any family law or court orders, medical or emergency action plans, and evidence of disability or support needs where they apply. Getting the immunisation statement and a current bill in the enrolling parent's name sorted in October saves a scramble in January.
Orientation in Term 4 2026
Transition to Kindergarten programs run over several weeks in the second half of the year, and most of them fall in Term 4. Term 4 2026 runs from Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 17 December in both the Eastern and Western divisions.
Each school sets its own program. It might be a parent information evening, a few mornings in the classroom, or a short meeting about your child. If you have not heard from the school by mid-October, contact the office. Families who enrol late in the year may have missed invitations sent out earlier.
Before and after school care is a separate booking
A place at the school does not come with a care place. Before and after school care at NSW public schools is run by external providers, and you book with the provider, not the school. The Department points families to the Starting Blocks website to find services.
Most services run from 7am before school and until 6pm after school. Some open from 6am and stay open until 6:30pm. Families may be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy for these sessions.
If you need care from the first week of Term 1 2027, contact the provider in Term 4. Ask about vacancies for Kindergarten, the hours and the daily fee. Do not assume the school's own care service will have room.
October 2026 to March 2027, dated
| When | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| From 13 October 2026 | Term 4 starts, orientation programs run | Confirm your enrolment and orientation dates with the school |
| October to November 2026 | Plan care for Term 1 2027 | Contact the before and after school care provider about places |
| By 17 December 2026 | Term 4 ends | Have documents lodged and first-day details confirmed |
| 18 December 2026 | Summer holidays start | Sort uniform, bag and lunchbox |
| 28 January 2027 | Term 1 starts, Eastern division | Check whether this is a student day or a staff day |
| 4 February 2027 | Term 1 starts, Western division | As above |
| First 5 full weeks of Term 1 | Best Start Kindergarten assessment | No preparation needed |
| 12 March 2027 | Best Start deadline, Eastern division | Expect a possible follow-up meeting with the teacher |
| 19 March 2027 | Best Start deadline, Western division | As above |
| 9 April 2027 | Term 1 ends |
The first day of class is not the first day of term
Term 1 2027 starts on Thursday 28 January in the Eastern division and Thursday 4 February in the Western division. That is a week's difference, so check which division your school is in.
The published term dates also include school development days for staff, and children should not attend on those days. So the first day of class for Kindergarten is often later than the term start date. Your school will confirm the actual first day, which is why it is worth asking at orientation.
Best Start: a 20-minute one-on-one check
Every Kindergarten child at a NSW public school does the Best Start Kindergarten Assessment in the first weeks of school. It is a short, one-on-one session with the classroom teacher, and it is there to show the teacher where your child is starting from.
- What it covers: literacy (words, sounds, letter recognition and early writing) and numeracy (recognising numbers, counting, early adding and subtracting).
- How long: about 20 minutes each for the literacy and numeracy parts.
- When: in the first 5 full weeks of school. It must be finished by Friday 12 March 2027 in the Eastern division or Friday 19 March 2027 in the Western division.
- Preparation: none. Children do not need to prepare or study, and it is fine if they cannot answer every question.
Afterwards, the teacher may set up a meeting to talk you through the skills your child showed.
What to do in the next 4 weeks
- Confirm your child's birthday falls on or before 31 July 2022.
- If you are still choosing, settle on 1 school and complete that enrolment.
- Get the immunisation history statement and a current proof of address in the enrolling parent's name.
- Ask the school for orientation dates and your child's first day of class.
- Contact the before and after school care provider about 2027 places.
The school you choose now is the one your child will likely stay at for 7 years, from Kindergarten to Year 6. If you are still comparing, spend the time on the practical things: the trip, the care, and what the school offers beyond the classroom.
Official references
- NSW Department of Education: Primary school enrolment (accessed 24 September 2026)
- NSW Department of Education: Starting school (accessed 24 September 2026)
- NSW Department of Education: Future and past NSW term and vacation dates (accessed 24 September 2026)
- NSW Department of Education: 2026 school calendar (accessed 24 September 2026)
- NSW Department of Education: Best Start Kindergarten Assessment (accessed 24 September 2026)
- NSW Department of Education: Before and after school care for parents (accessed 24 September 2026)
- NSW Government: Enrolling your child in a NSW government primary school (accessed 24 September 2026)