Starting Prep (Foundation) is a big step, and almost every parent wonders at some point: is my child ready for Prep? Here is the reassuring part. Victorian schools don’t expect children to read or write before they arrive. What helps most is being able to look after themselves, get along with others, and feel safe and excited about school. This calm checklist for Victorian families shows what matters, what doesn’t, and how to use the summer holidays well.
When can my child start Prep in Victoria?
To start Prep in 2027, your child needs to turn 5 by 30 April 2027. If their fifth birthday falls after 30 April, they can start the following year. School becomes compulsory once a child has turned 6. Other states have different dates, and even a different name for the first year: see school starting age by state.
If you are unsure about timing, especially with a birthday early in the year, talk it over with your kinder teacher and the school. They know your child and how their Prep program runs. Enrolments for 2027 at government schools were due by the end of July 2026, so if you haven’t enrolled yet, contact your local school now.
In 2027, students at government schools start Term 1 on Thursday 28 January. Some schools plan the first days for Prep children a little differently, so check the start times and arrangements with your school.
What Victorian schools actually ask for
The Victorian Government’s tips for starting school are practical and kind. In short, they suggest you:
- practise the journey to and from school
- arrange play dates with families whose children will go to the same school
- encourage independence: dressing, packing and carrying a bag, putting on sunscreen and going to the toilet
- label all of your child’s belongings
- talk about and practise any after-school arrangements
- check start and finish times, and where to drop off and pick up
- stay positive, build excitement, and talk about any worries
- visit a library and read together
- start using the name of the new teacher
- set up predictable routines for dinner, bath time and bed time.
Notice what isn’t on the list: reading, writing, knowing the alphabet or writing their name. Those are taught in Prep. Recognising the letters in their own name is part of the Prep English curriculum itself, alongside learning letter names and sounds. Your child doesn’t need a head start on schoolwork. They need to feel capable and comfortable.
A school readiness checklist for Victorian families
Use this as a guide, not a test. Most children can do some of these things and are still learning others, and that’s fine. Read through it, notice what your child already does well, and choose one or two things to practise together.
Looking after myself
- Goes to the toilet on their own, flushes and washes their hands.
- Puts on shoes, a jumper and a hat (shoes with easy straps are fine).
- Opens their lunchbox, food containers, wrappers and drink bottle.
- Puts on sunscreen with a little help.
- Carries their own school bag, and can find their things in it.
- Knows their own belongings when they see their name label.
Getting along with others
- Takes turns and shares, most of the time.
- Can say goodbye to a parent or carer, even with a few tears.
- Asks a grown-up for help when they need it.
- Sits with a group for a short story.
- Plays alongside other children and is starting to play with them.
Talking and listening
- Says their full name and can tell an adult what they need (“I need the toilet”).
- Listens to a picture book and talks about it.
- Follows a simple instruction, like “Put your bag on the hook, then come and sit down.”
- Tells you something about their day.
Hands and play
- Draws, colours and scribbles with chunky crayons, chalk or textas.
- Squeezes and rolls playdough.
- Snips with child-safe scissors.
- Builds with blocks, threads big beads, or does simple puzzles.
Nice to have, not required
These are lovely if they come naturally, but schools don’t expect them. Please don’t turn them into homework.
- Holding a crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb. Many children are still developing a mature grip in Prep and beyond: the Victorian Department of Education’s handwriting guide says it usually develops between about four and six, and sometimes takes until seven or eight. See pencil grip by age for what’s typical.
- Hearing rhymes and playing with sounds (“cat, hat, bat!”).
- Counting a few objects, like the apples in a bowl.
- Recognising their name, or a few letters in it.
The Transition Learning and Development Statement
If your child goes to kinder, their kinder educator writes a Transition Learning and Development Statement (TLDS), usually during Terms 3 and 4. It describes your child’s interests and skills, and ideas that help them learn. The kinder sends it to your child’s school and Prep teacher, and to any out-of-school-hours care your family will use. For children starting school in 2027, it must be completed by the end of Term 4, 2026.
You will be invited to fill in the family section and to read what the educator has written, and you get a copy. Your child can add their own part too, usually a drawing and their thoughts about school. It’s a great chance to tell the school what makes your child tick: what they love, what worries them, and what helps them settle.
A summer holiday plan, 10 minutes at a time
December and January are a perfect time to get ready without any pressure. Pick one idea a day, keep it short and playful, and stop while it’s still fun. For the whole family, our summer holiday plan has ten-minute ideas and free things to do.
- Walk or drive past the school. Play in the school playground if it’s open, and point out where the Prep rooms are.
- Have a uniform dress-up. Try on the uniform and shoes at home. Who can put their jumper on fastest, the right way out?
- Hold a lunchbox picnic. Practise opening every container and wrapper, and packing the rubbish away.
- Label everything together. Let your child spot their name on each label. It’s a gentle first step towards recognising it.
- Read a picture book a day. Borrow some books about starting school from the library, and talk about the pictures.
- Play with hands. Playdough, drawing with chalk outside, cutting out pictures from a catalogue, building with blocks.
- Count and notice. Count the steps to the front door, the strawberries on a plate, or the cars at the lights.
- Start the school routine early. About two weeks before Term 1, move bedtime and wake-up time towards school times.
Sleep makes a big difference to tired new Prep children. Australia’s guidelines recommend 9 to 11 hours of sleep a night for children aged 5 to 13, with no screens in the hour before bed. If you want some calm screen time over the holidays, our post on screen time that helps has ideas for keeping it short and shared.
Feelings matter more than skills
How your child feels about school matters more than anything on a checklist. Talk about Prep with excitement. Ask your child what they think about starting school, and listen to their worries without brushing them off. Start using the teacher’s name once you know it. A play date or two with a future classmate means a familiar face on the first day.
On the first morning, keep goodbyes short and cheerful, and be there on time at pick-up. Expect your child to be very tired in the first weeks. That is normal, and it passes.
If your child is keen on letters, follow their lead. Our guide to teaching your child to write their name shows a gentle way to start, and phonics at home in 10 minutes a day is ready for when Prep is under way.
Questions parents ask
What age do children start Prep in Victoria?
To start Prep in 2027, a child needs to turn 5 by 30 April 2027. School is compulsory once a child has turned 6. If you’re unsure about the right year for your child, talk with your kinder teacher and the school.
What should my child know before starting Prep?
No reading, writing or alphabet knowledge is expected. The Victorian Government’s tips focus on independence (dressing, the toilet, sunscreen, carrying a bag), routines, reading together, and getting to know the school and teacher.
Does my child need to write their name before Prep?
No. Recognising the letters in their own name is part of what children learn in Prep. If your child is interested, you can play with name letters at home, but there’s no need to drill it.
What is a TLDS?
A Transition Learning and Development Statement is written by your child’s kinder educator, usually in Terms 3 and 4, and sent to the school. It describes your child’s interests, skills and ways to support their learning. Families add their own section and receive a copy.
When does Prep start in 2027?
Term 1, 2027 begins on Wednesday 27 January, and students at government schools start on Thursday 28 January. Check with your school about the start times and arrangements for Prep children.
Is it normal to feel unsure if my child is ready?
Yes, very normal. Most children are still learning some of the skills on any readiness checklist when they start. Prep teachers expect a wide range, and your kinder teacher is the best person to talk to about your child.
Sources
- Enrolling in Foundation (Prep), Victorian Government
- Tips for starting school, Victorian Government
- Moving from kindergarten to school, Victorian Government
- Transition to school: resources for families, Victorian Government
- School term dates and holidays in Victoria, Victorian Government
- Victorian Curriculum F–10 Version 2.0: English, VCAA
- Physical activity and exercise guidelines for children and young people (5 to 17 years), Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
