Families can contact their local service or council to ask about their registration and enrolment process.
Registration and enrolment are required for Pre-Prep, even where a child is already attending the service in a Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program.
During this conversation, the service or council should advise the family of the priority of access policy that applies when they enrol their child. This is especially important where there is likely to be significant demand for kindergarten places at a service which may result in some families missing out.
Services and councils have policies and procedures to protect the privacy of families and children when they register or enrol in kindergarten. Services and councils may support families who have questions about why certain information is collected, and how it is used, noting that services should refer to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 on what information is required in a child’s enrolment record.
Where a family declines Pre-Prep
Families with children eligible for Pre-Prep from 2026 and 2028 might be unsure about enrolling in Pre-Prep if Pre-Prep isn’t available to all four-year-old children at their service.
Explaining Pre-Prep and the benefit of more hours to families is important for them to make a considered decision.
When talking to families about Pre-Prep and gaining an understanding of their barriers to enrolment, it is important to be sensitive to their needs.
Ultimately, families have choice over the type of program they enrol their child in. Some families will need some time to think about this decision, therefore early conversations around eligibility for Pre-Prep are encouraged.
If a family declines a Pre-Prep place, families can still enrol their child in Four-Year-Old Kindergarten for 15 hours per week. If the family changes their mind on wanting to access Pre-Prep after enrolment has closed, access to a Pre-Prep place will be subject to availability within the service.
Services and local councils should advise their Early Childhood Improvement Branch (ECIB) in the Department of Education of the number of families who decline pre-prep and if applicable, a summary of the reasons that families have declined. This information is to support planning only. No other information is required.
Information to give to families:
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