Starting Prep

Key points:

Our school is zoned. Students who live in our zone are guaranteed a place at our school. Your school zone is available at https://www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au/
Victorian law states that children must attend school from the age of six. To enrol in a government school, a child must turn five before 30 April of the year they start school.
The information below is not exhaustive! Parents and carers receive enrollment and transition information during the process, and we’re always here to answer your questions — you can contact us at any time on (03) 8534 6100 or email us at elsternwick.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Join us on a school tour to learn about all we can offer at EPS.

Tours start at 9:30 am and last for approximately one hour
They’re led by our Principal and supported by our student leaders
You’ll visit our classrooms, observe classes in progress, and tour our grounds and facilities.

Meet other parents/carers and their children for a play and a chat.

Hosted by our Assistant Principal and Inclusion Coordinator, and student wellbeing leaders
A pressure-free experience of life at EPS

Social and emotional readiness

Ability to use the bathroom, dress and eat independently
Able to communicate well and be able to express themselves
Can listen respectfully and cope with a structured environment
Have social skills that include being able to share and wait patiently for their turn
Ability to use classroom tools such as crayons, pencils and scissors
Show natural curiosity, interest and confidence in learning new things

Literacy skills

Recognise and write some letters of their name
Can tell stories about events in their lives in sequence
Notices letters and words they see in the environment
Can talk about their favourite stories and describe characters and things that happen in the story

Numeracy skills

Your child’s kindergarten teacher is well-placed to understand your child’s development and school readiness, helping you make the best decision.

Some questions might include:

Is my child socially and emotionally ready for their first year of primary school?
Have my child’s communication and language skills developed sufficiently to navigate school?
Is my child prepared in all aspects of their development?

Give us a call

We’d be happy to chat with you about school readiness. Call us on (03) 8534 6100 or email us at elsternwick.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Once your child is offered enrolment at EPS, they will attend several transition sessions at the school.

All Prep students will be allocated into groups and met by our Year 5 students, who will take them to a Prep classroom.
Parents and carers stay at the school for parent sessions filled with valuable information.

During the first part of Term 1, your child will attend school four days each week. Prep students don’t attend school on Fridays for the first four Fridays of the school year.
Your child will eat with their class, either in their classroom or outside. They will have a fruit snack mid-morning, recess and lunch.
Preps have their own space in the playground for recess and lunch outside time to help build confidence and friendships.
At the end of term 1, Preps are allocated Year 4 ‘buddies’. The goal is to develop relationships between the younger and older children, enhancing feelings of belonging and fostering a friendly and supportive school community. We take great care matching buddies, and the older buddy is provided with advice and buddy training!

You can find general information and resources about enrolling your child (including information in other languages) at a government school at the Department of Education’s website: Enrolling in Foundation (Prep).

We strongly encourage you to visit this page and read the information carefully.