School EntryCALCULATORAUSTRALIA · NSW
Five by 31 July · Kindergarten · Source check: 21 October 2026
PLAN THE YEARS AHEAD
Plan school entry or estimate Year 12 completion for a child already at school. Birth dates stay in this browser.
THEIR NEXT CHAPTER
| School year | Year level | Age on 1 January | Age turning that year | Stage |
|---|
Children can start NSW Kindergarten if they turn five on or before 31 July in that year. This is the standard eligibility boundary; compulsory schooling by the sixth birthday is a separate consideration when discussing a later start.
Check the official NSW entry guidance ↗NSW calls its first school year Kindergarten. Its July cutoff differs from neighbouring states, so a child with the same birthday can have different standard entry years on opposite sides of a border.
For a child born on 31 July 2022, the calculator gives Kindergarten in 2027. They turn five during that school year. A child born on 1 August 2022 instead has a standard result of 2028. Enter the full date when checking the boundary: choosing only the birth year would put both children in the same group incorrectly.
For families weighing a later start, the first eligible year is only one part of the discussion. Ask the school how the sixth-birthday attendance requirement applies to your proposed date. Do not add a year to the calculator result and treat it as approval. Bring questions about the child's current learning and support needs to that conversation.
A child born on 15 June 2022 reaches standard NSW Kindergarten eligibility in 2027, but the ACT's April boundary gives 2028 for first entry. Families around Canberra and Queanbeyan should check the system of the actual school. Where a child has already begun Kindergarten, request an individual transfer placement rather than applying a new first-entry result mechanically.
Children can start Kindergarten if they turn five on or before 31 July that year. Talk with the school about readiness and the latest permitted starting date.
A child can begin Kindergarten at the start of the year if their fifth birthday is on or before 31 July. The calculator applies that inclusive date; it does not round a birthday to the nearest month.
Children must be in compulsory schooling by their sixth birthday. If you are considering a later start, check the timing with the school rather than simply moving the whole timeline forward.
Start with the public-school intake area for the child's home. NSW provides a primary enrolment application process separately from its age guidance. Ask the receiving school about local arrangements and transition visits.
Compare the completed year level, curriculum and school reports with the receiving school. A standard first-entry calculation cannot decide a transfer placement for a child who has already started schooling elsewhere.
These fictional examples illustrate the boundary. They are not records of real children.
Example date of birth
Year 1: 2028. Standard progression shown.
Example date of birth
Year 1: 2029. Standard progression shown.
| Example birthday | First school year | Intake | Year 1 | Year 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 July 2022 | 2027 · Kindergarten | Term 1 | 2028 | 2039 |
| 1 August 2022 | 2028 · Kindergarten | Term 1 | 2029 | 2040 |
Yes, under the standard age rule if they turn five by 31 July that year. Readiness and enrolment should still be discussed with the school.
No. NSW Kindergarten is the first year of school. Queensland uses Prep for that year.
The eligibility comparison may change. An enrolled child's placement needs an individual discussion with the receiving school; this tool does not automatically move them between grades.
Under the current rule, a child must turn five by 31 July 2027 for standard Kindergarten eligibility that year. The calculator assumes the reviewed rule remains unchanged.
An August fifth birthday is after the standard 31 July cutoff, so the standard first-entry result is the following year. Ask the school about any individual circumstances.
No. The timeline starts at school Kindergarten, followed by Years 1–12. Preschool participation is not counted as the first school grade.
Keep the calculated year and intake handy when you contact the school. Ask it to confirm the plan before changing childcare, work or moving arrangements.
Standard entry rules checked 21 October 2026. Future entry projections run through 2032. Earlier birth years are supported as estimates using the current rule, not a verified historical rule. Compare the projected year level with the student’s actual year level. Confirm current enrolment requirements with your school.
READ & PLAN
