Enrolment

Foundation (Prep) enrolment

Please note: an updated Foundation enrolment timeline for 2027 enrolments was released to schools in Term 4, 2025. All Victorian government primary schools, including P–9 and P–12 schools, are required to implement the timeline in 2026 to support Foundation enrolments for the 2027 school year. Enrolment information packs for schools, parents and carers, and the early childhood sector were published in late Term 1, 2026.

Statewide timeline to manage Foundation (Prep) enrolments for the 2027 school year

Each year, the department releases the statewide Foundation (Prep) enrolment timeline to Victorian government primary schools in mid-late Term 4. The timeline includes key dates, activity descriptions and an overview of responsibilities to help schools plan for their Foundation enrolments.

All Victorian government primary schools are required to implement the timeline in 2026 to support Foundation enrolments for the 2027 school year. The statewide timeline does not apply to primary schools exempt from the Placement Policy, such as specialist schools.

Key dates and activities for schools in the 2026–27 timeline include the following:

• Parents/carers can submit their enrolment applications from the start of Term 2, 2026. This follows the release of 2027 zones on the department’s Find my School website and the publication of Foundation enrolment information packs.
• Enrolment applications from parents/carers are due by the last Friday of July, 31 July 2026.
• Schools notify parents and carers of the outcome of enrolment applications between Monday 3 August and Friday 14 August 2026.
• Parents/carers who receive an enrolment offer should respond to the offer by Friday 28 August 2026.
• Written appeals from parents/carers are to be lodged with schools by Friday 28 August 2026.
• Schools notify parents and carers in writing of the outcome of appeals by Friday 11 September 2026.

Enrolment applications

The Foundation (Prep) enrolment information pack for parents and carers will be available from the start of Term 2, 2026 on the Enrolling in Foundation (Prep) page. The pack includes the application form.

Schools may provide parents/carers with an enrolment form instead of the application form to complete their enrolment application, in accordance with the Enrolment Policy: Application and enrolment forms page.

Primary schools with an Enrolment Management Implementation Plan (EMIP) in place, or under enrolment pressure, are strongly encouraged to provide parents/carers with an application form.

For further guidance on which forms to use and to download these forms, please refer to the Enrolment Policy: Application and enrolment forms page.

Schools must continue to manage enrolment applications submitted after the application due date of 31 July 2026 and process these as they are received. Schools must consider all enrolment applications in accordance with the department’s Placement Policy.

Note: From Term 2 2026, all mainstream primary schools in the North Eastern (NEVR) and South Eastern (SEVR) regions will use Student Insight, the department’s new online enrolment system. Student Insight replaces the existing paper-based process, allowing families to submit Foundation enrolment applications online. Schools using Student Insight for online enrolments must clearly indicate this on their website.

What schools need to do

To ensure that your school manages Foundation enrolments for 2027 in accordance with the statewide timeline, schools must:

• download and read the timeline for 2026–27 and share it with relevant teaching and administration staff, including the business manager: Statewide Foundation enrolment timeline for 2026–27 (DOCX) (staff login required)
• download and read the enrolment information pack for schools (to be released in late Term 1, 2026), which provides guidance and templates on the enrolment process
• update your school’s website using the template website content provided to include enrolment dates and activities for enrolment into Foundation for the 2027 school year, and remove any outdated information: Template website content (DOCX) (staff login required)
• direct parents and carers of children commencing Foundation in 2027 to the Victorian Government’s Enrolling in Foundation (Prep) webpage for information and resources on when and how to apply to enrol their child in primary school.

Enrolment information packs

As part of the department’s annual release of enrolment information, the packs for schools, parents and carers, and the early childhood sector will be published in late Term 1, 2026.

The Foundation enrolment information pack for schools will include:

• guidance for schools on the Foundation enrolment process, including frequently asked questions
• optional resources that schools can use to communicate about the timeline with prospective families and the local community, including early childhood education and care services in the area
• forms and standard templates that schools must use for enrolments and appeals, such as template letters for schools to notify parents and carers of the outcome of their enrolment application and the appeal form.