The short answer
Prep: the usual entry rule
A child is ordinarily eligible for Prep if they turn five by 30 June in the proposed start year.
What about kindy?
A child is ordinarily eligible for kindy in the year they turn four by 30 June.
Can my child start later or earlier?
Queensland permits a one-year delay to Prep without a formal approval process, subject to compulsory-schooling requirements. Early Prep entry is a separate, restricted pathway; some children who turn five by 31 July may qualify with principal approval.
What should I do next?
Check the child's date of birth against the proposed year, then speak with the intended school about enrolment, a possible delay and transition supports.
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 Queensland sources
Check the latest published guidance before making an enrolment decision. The public rules summarised here were reviewed on 4 October 2026.