NSW School Age Calculator
Find out what year your child may start Preschool, Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 7 in New South Wales based on their year of birth.
- NSW Kindergarten is the first formal year of primary school.
- Children can usually start Kindergarten if they turn 5 on or before 31 July.
- The calculator uses birth year only, so it shows possible outcomes by birthday range.
NSW school age calculator
Choose your child’s birth year and select New South Wales to estimate Preschool, Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 7.
What age does a child start school in NSW?
In New South Wales, children can usually start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year. Kindergarten is the first formal year of primary school in NSW.
NSW Preschool, Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 7 guide
The table below gives a simple guide to the New South Wales school age pathway.
| Stage | NSW name | General age rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before school | Preschool | Children can usually enrol in NSW public preschool from the beginning of the school year if they turn 4 on or before 31 July that year. | Preschool places and priorities can vary. Check with the preschool or local school. |
| First year of school | Kindergarten | Children can usually start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year. | Kindergarten is the first year of primary school in NSW. |
| Second year of school | Year 1 | Usually the year after Kindergarten. | The calculator estimates this from the Kindergarten start year. |
| High school transition | Year 7 | Usually estimated from the child’s primary school progression. | The calculator gives a guide to the likely Year 7 start year. |
Common NSW school age questions
These are the questions parents often search when trying to work out when their child starts Preschool, Kindergarten, Year 1 or high school in New South Wales.
What year will my child start Preschool in NSW?
For NSW public preschools, children can usually enrol from the beginning of the school year if they turn 4 on or before 31 July that year.
What year will my child start Kindergarten in NSW?
Your child can usually start Kindergarten in NSW at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year.
What year will my child be in Year 1?
In NSW, Year 1 usually comes directly after Kindergarten. Once you know the Kindergarten start year, the Year 1 estimate is usually the following year.
How the NSW 31 July cut-off affects school start years
Because NSW uses a 31 July Kindergarten cut-off, children born from January to July may have a different school start year from children born from August to December in the same birth year.
Born January to July
Children born from January to July usually meet the 31 July cut-off for Kindergarten in the earlier eligible school year.
Born August to December
Children born from August to December usually miss the 31 July cut-off and start Kindergarten the following year.
Why the calculator shows two options
Since the calculator only asks for birth year, it shows both possible birthday ranges instead of asking for a full date of birth.
Is NSW Kindergarten the same as Kindy or Preschool?
This is one of the biggest points of confusion for parents comparing school starting ages between Australian states.
Preschool in NSW
Preschool is an early childhood education setting before formal primary school. It is not the same as Kindergarten in NSW.
Kindergarten in NSW
Kindergarten is the first formal year of primary school in New South Wales. It comes before Year 1.
Kindy in other states
In Queensland and some other contexts, Kindy usually refers to an early learning year before school. That is different from NSW Kindergarten.
NSW school age calculator FAQs
Quick answers for NSW parents working out Preschool, Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 7.
What age does Kindergarten start in NSW?
Children can usually start Kindergarten in NSW at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year.
What age does Preschool start in NSW?
For NSW public preschools, children can usually enrol from the beginning of the school year if they turn 4 on or before 31 July that year.
Is Kindergarten compulsory in NSW?
NSW guidance says children can start Kindergarten if they turn 5 on or before 31 July, and children must be enrolled in compulsory schooling by their 6th birthday unless exempted.
What happens if my child turns 5 after 31 July?
If your child turns 5 after 31 July, they usually start Kindergarten the following school year.
Can my child start Kindergarten later in NSW?
Some parents choose to delay Kindergarten if they feel their child is not ready. Speak with your local school or the NSW Department of Education for advice about your child’s situation.
Is NSW Kindergarten the same as Prep?
NSW uses Kindergarten as the first year of primary school. Queensland uses Prep for a similar first formal school year. The names are different, but both sit before Year 1.
What year will my child start Year 7 in NSW?
The calculator estimates Year 7 from the likely Kindergarten start year. This gives a guide to when your child may start high school.
Calculate your child’s NSW school starting year
Use the calculator to estimate your child’s likely Preschool, Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 7 years in New South Wales.
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