The short answer
Foundation (Prep): the usual entry rule
Children ordinarily start Foundation if they turn five by 30 April in the year they begin school. School attendance is compulsory from age six.
What about four-year-old kindergarten?
Four-year-old kindergarten generally uses a 30 April cutoff for children turning four.
Can my child start later or earlier?
Being eligible and choosing the best starting time are separate questions. Victoria's early childhood programs and Pre-Prep rollout also have program and location considerations beyond the school-start age rule.
What should I do next?
Confirm Foundation eligibility and any proposed later start with the intended school. Check current kindergarten and Pre-Prep access with the service rather than assuming a place or funded hours.
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 Victoria sources
Check the latest published guidance before making an enrolment decision. The public rules summarised here were reviewed on 4 October 2026.