The short answer
Kindergarten: the usual entry rule
Children who turn five on or before 30 April ordinarily enter Kindergarten that year. School attendance is compulsory from age six.
What about preschool?
Children who turn four on or before 30 April ordinarily qualify for four-year-old preschool.
Can my child start later or earlier?
Preschool placement, Priority Enrolment Areas and high-demand programs may affect which setting is available. Exceptional early or delayed entry pathways need confirmation.
What should I do next?
Use the ACT school age calculator and check placement or exception questions with the school or ACT Education Directorate.
StartYear can help structure this decision with parent observations and optional input from an educator, but it cannot approve a deferral, exception or school placement. Eligibility is not the same as readiness.
Official Australian Capital Territory sources
Check the latest published guidance before making an enrolment decision. The public rules summarised here were reviewed on 4 October 2026.