General guidelines
Public preschools enrol children for one year only, the year before they start school.
Children can enrol from the beginning of the school year if they turn 4 years of age before 31 July that year.
Preschool classes are a resource, shared across communities of schools. Unlike primary schools, there are no enrolment boundaries for public preschools. Enrolment in a preschool class within a school does not automatically translate to an entitlement to enrol in that school for Kindergarten.
Public preschools have an obligation to provide education for all children, including those with disability, and ensure every child can participate on the same basis as their peers.
Enrolment priority
Enrolment priority is given to:
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children
- children living in low socio-economic circumstances
- children who are unable to access other early childhood settings due to financial hardship.
The principal of the school will then offer enrolment in the following order:
- children living within the school's catchment area
- children living outside the catchment area but who have siblings at the school
- other applicants.
Preschool fees
The NSW Government provides fee relief to support the enrolment of children in public preschools. Fees are not charged for preschool enrolment, attendance, waiting list applications or specialist programs.
Days and hours of operation
Public preschools are open for children to attend for 6 hours a day and operate on the same days as all NSW public schools, see NSW term dates. Go to Attendance in public preschools for more information.
Application to enrol
We are now accepting applications to enrol for 2026. Applications are to be delivered to the main school office with supporting documents. The office is open between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm, the best time to drop off applications is between 9:30 am and 2:30 pm.
- Families can express interest in enrolling their child by completing and submitting to the school an expression of interest to enrol in a NSW public preschool (PDF 316.2 KB). In addition, please fill out the BPS Preschool Preference for Days Form.
- If more expressions of interest are received than available places, the school principal will form a placement panel to assess these.
- The placement panel will offer enrolment to children according to the priorities listed in the Enrolment in public preschools procedure.
- Families offered a place for their child will be asked to complete the Application to enrol in a NSW public preschool (PDF 713 KB) and supply supporting documentary evidence.
- Translated versions of the preschool enrolment application are available.
Immunisation
Preschools cannot enrol a child unless their family provides an Australian Immunisation Register Immunisation History Statement form that shows their child:
- is fully immunised for their age
- has a medical reason not to be vaccinated
- is on a recognised catch-up schedule.
There is a 12-week temporary exemption for supply of the Immunisation History Statement for:
- an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child
- a child evacuated during a state of emergency
- a child in out-of-home care.
Birth certificates
Families must provide evidence of their child's full name and date of birth.