Choose their school location
Pick a country, then the state, region or district where needed. School entry rules follow the destination school.
BIG DREAMS START WITH SMALL STEPS
School starting age,
made simple.
Their first day is a big deal. Let’s make planning it a little easier.
Find when your child can start school, understand the birthday cutoff and see the years ahead. Start with the country they’ll call their classroom.
Find my child’s starting yearNo account. No names. Birthdays stay in your browser.
13 countries to exploreLocal rules, clearly explainedA timeline to keep
FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
Where will they
go to school?
Every place has its own first-day story. Choose your country for calculators, local explanations and school planning guides.
🇺🇸
United States
Explore kindergarten ages, state cutoffs and checked district options.
Some local rules still being checked🇦🇺
Australia
Find your state or territory’s starting age and school timeline.
Explore calculators & guidance🇬🇧
United Kingdom
Find Reception or P1 guidance for each of the four nations.
Explore calculators & guidance🇳🇿
New Zealand
Plan a school start and the years ahead in New Zealand.
Explore calculators & guidance🇨🇦
Canada
Explore kindergarten rules by province and territory.
Some local rules still being checked🇸🇬
Singapore
Find your child’s Primary 1 starting year and school timeline.
Explore calculators & guidance🇿🇦
South Africa
Check Grade 1 starting age and plan through Grade 12.
Explore calculators & guidance🇫🇷
France
Plan from CP through collège and the later school years.
Explore calculators & guidance🇩🇪
Germany
Find the school starting age for your Bundesland.
Explore calculators & guidance🇮🇹
Italy
Plan primary school and the years that follow.
Explore calculators & guidance🇮🇳
India
Check the school systems covered, including Kendriya Vidyalaya.
Some local rules still being checked🇪🇸
Spain
Plan Primaria, ESO and the next stage of learning.
Explore calculators & guidance🇯🇵
Japan
Find the elementary school entry year and subsequent grades.
Explore calculators & guidanceWe show calculations only for the rules currently covered. Some district and school-system lists are still growing. See what’s available →
LESS GUESSWORK. MORE LOOKING FORWARD.
From one birthday
to the bigger picture.
Add their birthday
The local calculator compares their date of birth with the published age requirement. Read the notes about early or delayed starts.
See the years ahead
Explore the school timeline, then print or download it. Check application dates and your child’s actual starting arrangements with the school.
A LITTLE KNOW-HOW GOES A LONG WAY
More than
a date on a calendar.
Working out a school starting year is the first step. Here’s what matters when turning that estimate into a family plan.
Old enough to start, ready for what comes next.
A birthday cutoff tells you whether a child meets the usual age requirement for that school year. It does not decide their readiness or guarantee a place at a particular school. If you are considering an earlier or later start, talk with the school about your options and the application process.
One birthday can change the whole timeline.
A birthday just after a cutoff can move the usual starting year forward by a year. School calendars also differ: some school years cross two calendar years, while others begin and end within one. Read the school-year labels in your result rather than assuming they match the calendar at home.
Same child. A different school system.
Kindergarten, Reception, Primary 1 and Year 1 are not interchangeable names. When moving, compare the age range, what children have already learned and the receiving school’s placement process. A starting-age calculator helps you understand the system; the school decides the right placement for a child transferring in.
A useful plan, with room for life to happen.
A school timeline can help you think about secondary school, a family move or a possible finishing year. It assumes the published entry rule stays the same and your child moves up each year. Repeated grades, accelerated learning and different study pathways can all change those dates.
CLEAR ANSWERS. CHECKABLE SOURCES.
Confidence starts
with knowing why.
Country and regional pages explain the starting-age rule in plain language and link to official education or school sources. Where a local rule has not been checked, we say so instead of inventing a starting year.
Before applying, confirm the current enrollment deadline, documents and any individual arrangements with your chosen school.
Explore our official sourcesYOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WONDERING
Big questions.
Straightforward answers.
How do I work out when my child will start school?
Choose the country where your child will attend school, then select a state, region or school district where needed. Enter their date of birth on that calculator. Where a checked rule is available, it shows the usual starting school year and the years that follow. Read any local notes before making an application.
Why do children the same age start in different school years?
School systems use different birthday cutoffs and school calendars. A child who meets the cutoff in one place may need to wait until the following school year somewhere else. Some areas also let parents apply for an earlier or later start. Use the rules for the school your child will attend, rather than where they were born.
Is the birthday cutoff the same as the application deadline?
No. The birthday cutoff determines which starting-age group a child usually belongs to. The application deadline is the date by which you must submit an enrollment or school-choice application. Applications may close well before the school year begins, so check both dates with your school.
Can I calculate my child’s graduation year?
The calculators show an estimated year-by-year timeline through the final stage listed for that education system. It assumes your child moves up one grade each year. A delayed start, repeating or skipping a year, or choosing a different qualification can change the finish date. Completing the timeline does not guarantee a qualification.
What if my school district is not listed?
It means we have not yet checked and added that district’s rules. It does not mean your child cannot start school. Ask the school for its starting-age requirement and birthday cutoff. Do not select a neighboring district to get a result: its date may be different.
Do you save my child’s date of birth?
No. Calculations happen in your browser. The birthday you enter is not sent to or stored on our server, and you do not need to enter your child’s name or create an account. A timeline you choose to download can include the birthday so you can identify it later.
Let’s find their first day.
Choose a country