Foundation/Prep 2026

Is your child starting school in 2026? To start primary school in 2026, your child will need to turn 5 years old by 30 April 2026. Schooling is compulsory for children who have turned 6 years old.

If your child is starting Foundation (Prep) in 2026, you will be able to apply to enrol your child in a Victorian government primary school from the start of Term 2, 2025 (Tuesday 22 April 2025).

Enrolment forms must be submitted by Friday 25 July 2025.

Preparations for the first day

• Talk to your child about starting school, where he/she can make friends and play games. Acknowledge that this can be a scary time and reassure them that their nerves are normal.
• Label all belongings clearly in a way that can be identified by your child.
• Have several “school lunches‟ with your child at home to provide practice in handling the lunch box, unwrapping food, and drinking from a drink bottle.
• Acquaint your child with safety procedures, including your arrival and departure from school arrangements. (e.g. not to run out of the school grounds and cross a the school crossing if needed
• If the school is within walking distance from home, follow the route to be taken several times prior to the start of the school year. Feel free to visit as often as you can prior to the start of the school year.
• Ensure that your child can attend his/her/their toilet needs. Stress the need for washing hands thoroughly after going to the toilet.

Have ready these items for use on the first day (all labelled with student’s name)

• Lunch box that can fit morning break food and lunch foods.
• Drink bottle
• Reader/Book Bag – as provided by Tallarook Primary School

One of our major aims for each student is to develop independence and a sense of responsibility as these impact on the individual students’ academic, social, and emotional development.

We can assist our students in a variety of ways. Some of the ways you too can assist your child is by ensuring your child carries his/her own school bag, puts it on their bag hook themselves, packs and unpacks their bag, is responsible for their hat and clothing.