Attending Kindergarten and pre-primary

Kindergarten and Pre-primary are not compulsory but most Western Australian children attend because it helps give them the best start to school.

There is a place for all eligible children in Kindergarten and Pre-primary programs in public schools. Wherever possible this place will be at your local-intake school.

Applying to enrol at your local school

Applications for enrolments for Kindergarten and Pre-primary in 2013 close on the last Friday in July each year.

You can apply to enrol your child if they are:

• four years old by 30 June 2013 (Kindergarten) or
• five years old by 30 June 2013 (Pre-primary).

When you apply to enrol at your local public school, make sure you bring:

• birth certificate – contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages on 1300 305 021 if you don’t have a copy
• immunisation records – contact the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809
• proof of current address.

Contact your local school if you need help with your application.

To find out when your child can start Kindergarten or Pre-primary, use the easy school age calculator.

You can apply at any public primary school, community Kindergarten or district high school.

Some schools may get more applications than they have places. Talk with your school about how applications are prioritised. If a place is not available, the school will help you apply to another school close by.

Increase to Kindergarten hours

Your local school may offer 11 or 15 hours of Kindergarten each week, depending on where you live. From 2013, all public schools and most private schools will have increased Kindergarten programs to 15 hours a week.

The increase in hours is part of major changes to early childhood education across Australia and will mean children have more time to learn and develop socially and emotionally. It may also make it easier for them when they go to full-time school.

Talk with your school to find out how the Kindergarten program is set up. Some schools will have full days and half days each week, while others have only half days or only full days.

Find out when your child is increasing Kindergarten hours.

Getting ready for school

Some children find the first days of kindergarten daunting. There are some simple things you can do to help ease them into school life.

• Read stories with your child about starting school.
• Go past the school and chat with your child about how they will soon be going there, the exciting things they will do and the friends they will make.
• Make time to visit school together - contact the school first to find out a suitable time.
• Spend time at school looking at all the fun activities going on.
• When you’re at school, show your child where their bag will go, where the toilets are and other things to get them used to school.
• Go shopping together to buy a special lunch box and drink bottle.

Helping children have a positive first experience of school is important because it can help shape the way they think about school in the future.

Once school starts, be actively involved yourself. Children love it when their mum or dad comes along to help with reading and other activities.

Your ongoing support will help them build strong foundations for success at school.
 

Reading books about starting school

Below is a list of books about starting school that you can read with your child. 

Billy and the big new school by Catherine and Laurence Anhold (Orchard Books)
Buzzy had a little lamb by Harriet Ziefert and Emily Bolam (Blue Apple Books)
Fiona the pig’s big day by Leigh Hobbs (Penguin/Viking)
First day by Margaret Wild and Kim Gamble (Allen & Unwin)
I am too absolutely small for school by Lauren Child (Orchard Books)
Meet the Barkers: Morgan and Moffat go to school by Tomie de Paola (Putman)
Mr Ouchy’s first day by BG Hennessy and Paul Meisel (Putnam)
Tom goes to kindergarten by Margaret Wild and David Legge (ABC Books)
When an elephant comes to school by Jan Ormerod (Lincoln)
Who will go to school today? by Karl Ruhmann and Miriam Monnier (North-South)

Aboriginal kindergartens

Aboriginal kindergartens operate in 28 schools around the State, providing early learning programs for three and four year old Aboriginal children. Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers help teachers implement culturally appropriate early childhood programs. Transport is provided in some schools to help families access the program.