When should my child start preschool?

The quick answer by age

Here's how it typically works in NSW:

• Age 3: Your child can start preschool from their third birthday (in most centres, including ours). Many families start at 3.
• Age 4: The most common starting age, especially for families doing a single year of preschool before school.
• Age 5: Some children turn 5 in the first half of the year and do one more year of preschool before starting Kindergarten the following year.

In NSW, children must start Kindergarten by the time they turn 6. The cut-off is 31 July, a child who turns 5 before 31 July can start Kindergarten that year if parents choose. This creates the decision many NSW families face: "do I send my child to school this year, or give them another year of preschool?"

Readiness matters more than age

Chronological age is a starting point, not a decider. Much more important is what early childhood educators call readiness, and it has little to do with whether your child can recognise letters or count to 20.

Signs your child is ready for preschool:

• Can separate from you for a few hours without significant distress.
• Is reliably toilet trained (most preschools, including ours, require this at 3).
• Can feed themselves with some independence, opening containers, drinking from a cup.
• Can follow simple instructions from an adult who isn't a parent.
• Shows interest in other children, not necessarily playing with them yet, but curious about them.
• Can handle transitions between activities reasonably well.

Starting at 3 years old

Starting at 3 gives your child two full years of preschool, sometimes called the "two-year model." This is common in NSW and has some real benefits:

• More time for social and emotional development. The first year of preschool is often mostly about learning to be part of a group.
• A slower, calmer transition into school life by age 5.
• Extended relationships with educators and peers, children who start at 3 often develop deep friendships by the time they leave.

The considerations:

• A 3-year-old's day can feel long, consider shorter hours or fewer days initially.
• Cost doubles if you're paying for two years (though the Child Care Subsidy applies to both).
• Some children simply aren't ready at 3, and that's fine.

Starting at 4 years old

The most common approach in NSW. One year of preschool, then Kindergarten at school the following year. This works well when:

• Your child is socially confident and has had some time with other children (playgroups, family day care, etc.).
• You're working full-time and long day care arrangements have been providing the social piece.
• Your child has a late-year birthday (October, November, December) and starting at 3 would mean two years that stretched from "just turned 3" to "nearly 5", which can be a long run.

"Should I hold my child back?" The NSW school-start question

If your child turns 5 between January and July, NSW law says they can start Kindergarten that year, but they don't have to. This is one of the most discussed parenting questions on Sydney's North Shore.

Reasons parents choose to give a child another year of preschool:

• Their child is one of the youngest in the potential cohort.
• Concerns about social or emotional readiness.
• A quieter or more introverted temperament that might benefit from another year.
• Speech or motor skill development that could use more time.
• General parental sense that their child "isn't quite ready."

Reasons to send at 5:

• Your child is academically curious, socially confident, and asking when they can "go to big school."
• They have friends starting Kindy that year.
• Holding back means they'll be one of the oldest in their cohort, which has mixed evidence on long-term outcomes.

There's no universally right answer. We'd recommend talking to your child's preschool educators, who see your child in a group setting every day, they often have useful perspective that's hard to get from home.

What about starting mid-year?

Yes, this is fine and common. NSW preschools typically have rolling enrolments based on availability. You don't have to wait for Term 1 to start, if a place becomes available in Term 2 or 3, most centres will welcome your child in.

At Roseville Kindergarten, we tend to have a mix of children who started at the beginning of the year and others who joined mid-year. Our educators are experienced at supporting children through the transition.

Practical steps to decide

1. Visit 2-3 centres in your area. The fit with educators matters enormously at this age. Spend 30 minutes watching how educators interact with the children, that's more telling than any facility.
2. Ask your child's current carers (family day care educator, playgroup leader, your own parents) whether they think your child seems ready.
3. Think about hours realistically. Does your child cope well with long separations from you already? Consider starting part-time and building up.
4. Consider the calendar year. Children born in the first half of the year tend to have more flexibility around when they start school. Late-year birthdays sometimes benefit from starting preschool earlier to get the full experience.

Starting at Roseville Kindergarten

We accept children from age 3 through to school-starting age (usually 5, sometimes 6 for held-back children). We have preschool hours (9am-3pm) and long day care hours (8am-5:30pm), from 2 to 5 days per week.

Our Director Anna has been Director at Roseville since 2009 and with Eikoh Seminar Australia since 2002. She's happy to talk through whether this is the right time for your child, and whether we're the right centre for your family.

Book a tour or call Anna on 02 9416 3002.