Enrolment

Foundation (Prep) enrolment

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, activities 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:

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

Enrolment applications

The Foundation (Prep) enrolment information pack for parents and carers is available to download from the Enrolling in Foundation (Prep) page. The pack includes the application form and process guidance.

If a school is using the existing paper-based enrolment process, they may provide parents and 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.

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. Schools with an EMIP must include information about their enrolment restriction on their school’s website.

The application form is usually the first step, allowing parents and carers to submit an expression of interest for a place at a school, but does not guarantee them an offer. Schools use the application form to check a child’s eligibility using the Placement Policy as their guide. 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.

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)
• update your school’s website by the end of Term 1 using the Template website content (DOCX) (staff login required) provided, to include dates and activities for enrolment into Foundation for the 2027 school year, and remove any outdated information
• download and read the enrolment information pack for schools, which provides guidance and templates on the enrolment process, as well as FAQs: Foundation (Prep) enrolment information pack for schools 2026–27 (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/carers, and the early childhood sector were published in late Term 1, 2026.

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 may 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 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.