My Child is Ready for Prep 

Children must be five years of age by 30 April of the year they start to be eligible for enrolment in a Victorian government school. A child must be at school in the year that they turn six years of age (the compulsory school starting age).

Starting primary school is a special milestone in your child's life. It is an exciting time for your family transitioning from kinder to the primary school setting.

In the year before starting at school:

• Talk about school in a cheerful manner, read books and watch the Story Time and other videos below.
• Encourage your child to ask questions about going to school. What do they want to know? How are they feeling?
• Help your child stay healthy. Talk to them about the healthy food they eat. Make sure they have regular health and dental checks and keep immunisations up to date.
• Encourage your child to do things on their own. These include dressing (including doing up zippers and buttons, and putting jumpers, shoes and socks on), going to the toilet, washing their hands, using a pair of scissors, unwrapping their food and opening and closing their drink bottle and lunchbox.
• Parents/guardians attend a school tour in Term 1 or 2 and the first Information Evening in the year prior to your child commencing at primary school. 
• Enrol your child following the Department of Education timeline and process. 
• Child enrolled for Prep at EHPS should attend the School Transition Program.

Prep Transition Program

Enrolment documentation is lodged in the year prior to entry in accordance with the Department of Education Foundation (Prep) enrolment process and timeline - CLICK HERE. 

Foundation (Prep) 2026 factsheet, including process and timeline 

Parents/guardians interested in enrolment at EHPS are encouraged to attend a school tour in Term 1 and 2 of the year prior to entry; a tour is recommended, but not compulsory. A tour allows you to see our school in action, see our facilities, and ask any questions you have about your child's start at primary school. An information pack will be provided at the conclusion of a school tour, or can be collected from our School Office from the beginning of March.

DIGITAL ENROLMENT APPLICATION on the VicStudents portal required to enrol for Foundation (Prep) in 2026 at EHPS, lodged from 22 April to 25 July 2025. Applications after 25 July 2025 will be considered on a case by case basis.

Placement is offered in accordance with the Department of Education Placement Policy. 

Our comprehensive School Transition Program is offered for our incoming, enrolled Prep students and their families. 

Four optional sessions are held in Term 3 after placements are confirmed. Child and one parent attend; attendance by booking.

The School Transition Program (three transition sessions and an orientation day) occurs during Term 4 for all children enrolled to commence in Foundation (Prep) in 2026 at EHPS. 

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Parent Sessions are held concurrent to the children's transition sessions  in Term 4 to provide information about numeracy, literacy and first aid/health care. These are also great opportunities to meet other families with a child starting in Prep.

An information evening for parents of children enrolled to commence in the next school year is held in November. This evening includes what to expect in the first few days of school, what the children will need to bring to school, and a day in the life of a Prep student.

Start of the School Year

At the beginning of their Prep year, students attend their compulsory school entry assessment (one hour interview between the child and their classroom teacher) during the first week of Term 1. Their first day at school in week 2 starts at a nominated time between 9am and 10am and finishes at 2.30pm. Depending on the date of the first day of Term 1, Prep students attend school for about a week from 8.50am to 2.30pm. They usually commence fulltime (8.50am to 3.30pm) in week 3 of Term 1.