Enrolment

Foundation (Prep) enrolment

Please note: an updated Foundation enrolment timeline for 2026 enrolments was released to schools in Term 4, 2024. All Victorian government primary schools, including P–9 and P–12 schools, are required to implement the timeline in 2025 to support Foundation enrolments for the 2026 school year. Enrolment information packs for schools, parents and carers, and the early childhood sector were published in late Term 1, 2025.

Statewide timeline to manage Foundation (Prep) enrolments for the 2026 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.

Primary schools are required to implement the timeline in 2025 to support Foundation enrolments for the 2026 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 2025–26 timeline include the following:

• Schools can receive enrolment applications from parents and carers from the start of Term 2, 2025. This follows the release of 2026 zones on the department’s Find my School website and the publication of Foundation enrolment information packs.
• Enrolment applications from parents and carers are to be submitted by Friday 25 July 2025.
• Schools notify parents and carers of the outcome of enrolment applications between Monday 28 July and Friday 8 August 2025.
• Written appeals from parents and carers are to be lodged with schools by Friday 22 August 2025.
• Schools notify parents and carers in writing of the outcome of appeals by Friday 5 September 2025.

Enrolment applications

The enrolment information pack for parents and carers, available to download from the Enrolling in Foundation (Prep) page includes the application form. From the start of Term 2, 2025, parents and carers can use the application form to complete their enrolment application.

Schools may provide parents and carers with the 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 and 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 25 July 2025 and process these as they are received. Schools must consider all enrolment applications in accordance with the department’s Placement Policy.

What schools need to do

To ensure that your school manages Foundation enrolments for 2026 in accordance with the statewide timeline, schools must:

• download and read the timeline and procedures for 2025–26 and share it with relevant teaching and administration staff, including the business manager: Statewide Foundation enrolment timeline and procedures for 2025–26 (DOCX) (staff login required)
• download and read the enrolment information pack for schools, which provides guidance and templates on the enrolment process: Foundation (Prep) enrolment information pack for schools for 2025–26 (DOCX) (staff login required)
• update your school’s website using the template website content provided below to include enrolment dates and activities for enrolment into Foundation for the 2026 school year, and remove any outdated information: Template website content (DOCX) (staff login required)
• direct parents and carers of children commencing Foundation in 2026 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 were published in late Term 1, 2025.

The Foundation enrolment information pack for schools includes:

• 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.

The enrolment information pack for parents and carers is publicly available via the Enrolling in Foundation (Prep) webpage. This pack includes detailed information and frequently asked questions for families. It also contains the application form.

The enrolment information pack for the early childhood sector is publicly available via the Transition to school resources for families webpage. This pack includes resources to support kindergarten and early childhood education and care services to share primary school enrolment information with staff and families. The resources include a poster, factsheet, template website content, social media content and newsletter text.