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Enrolling Your Child in Preschool (2019 Guide)

December 18, 2018

Preschool age child giving his parent a hug

As we near the end of another great year at Grace Village, we look to 2019 and those parents begin to think about enrolling their children in preschool next year.

And if that’s you, this guide has been created just for you!

Below you’ll find answers & resources to some of the most common questions we’re asked about your child’s starting on their early learning path.

Let’s jump in!


Quick navigation

  1. Are kindergarten / preschool / daycare the same thing?
  2. What age can my child start preschool in NSW?
  3. When can my child start school in kindergarten in NSW?
  4. When should I enrol my child in preschool/ kindergarten?
  5. Is my child ready for preschool?
  6. How do I prepare my child for preschool?
  7. How to enrol my child in kindergarten/ preschool?
  8. How much does daycare/ preschool cost?
  9. How do I take advantage of the Child Care Rebate with my Grace Village childcare fees?
  10. What forms do I need to complete to enrol my child?
  11. Does my child have to be immunised to enrol in child care?

1. Are Kindergarten / Preschool / Day Care the same thing?

This is where it can get confusing as people often intermix these terms.  To add to the confusion, each state or territory in Australia has different definitions.

Preschool can also be referred to as childcare, day-care, nursery school or kindergarten.  What separates these institutions is their focus on early learning and academics.

Day-care centres are long day child care, usually opened for up to 48 weeks per year from early morning to early evening, as they provide a place for working families and carers to look after their children whilst they are at work.

Day-care can accept babies from 6 weeks old right up to children to the age of 5 years.

Day-care will provide all meals, including a hot lunch. They have separate sections for the different age groups and will mix the ages to enhance the children’s socialisation skills.

Preschool accepts children between the ages of 3 and 5 years and works to familiarise children to the school routine.  The hours are shorter than a day-care, usually, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm and follow school terms.

Similar to school, lunch and morning & afternoon tea is brought in by the child.

Kindergarten is compulsory for all children and is the first year at a primary school.

2. What age can my child attend preschool in NSW?

Preschool is considered in the one year before they start primary school (kindergarten).

In NSW, you can enrol your child in an NSW preschool in the year they turn four years old before 1 August. Some preschools will accept children between the ages of 3 to 5 years, so check with the preschool.

Enrolments for preschool usually take place in the year before your child is starting, so early contact with your preschool is recommended.

A collection of preschoolers toys at a child care centre


Click here to book your personal tour and discover more about Grace Village Early Learning Centre


3. When can my child start school in kindergarten in NSW?

For NSW primary schools, enrolment for children in kindergarten is determined by your child’s age and birthday.

You can enrol your child in kindergarten at the beginning of the school year (end January) if they turn 5 on or before 31 July of that year. For children who turn 5 after 1 August, they will need to enrol in the following year.

For example, if your child turns 5 on 20th May 2018, they can start school in the year 2018.  If your child turns 5 on 5th August 2018, they can start school in the year 2019.

All children must be enrolled by their sixth birthday.

4. When should I enrol my child in preschool/ kindergarten?

Enrolments for preschool usually take place in the year before your child is starting, so early contact with your preschool is recommended, as some centres have limited spaces for children.

Enrolments are usually accepted from the beginning of Term 2 (end March, early April) of the year before your child starts preschool.

Two new friends playing at a child care centre

5. Is my child ready for preschool?

There are no set abilities or skills your child must have to enrol in preschool.

Preschool is a nurturing place where time is spent teaching children how to play with others, share, converse, eat independently, toilet train, respect others, follow schedules, and rules – all important skills for when they start school.

Studies have shown that an early start with children’s learning is vital for their education.

If you are concerned or have any hesitation, discuss with your preschool.  They can help you assess your child and give you helpful tips on building your child’s ability before their first day at preschool.

6. How do I prepare my child for preschool?

Set up small routines during the day.  Start small by setting up a morning or night routine.

Ensure your child knows the importance of rules and to respect them.

Organise play dates with other children to help them share and play with others just like at preschool.

Familiarise your child with their new preschool before their first day.  Some preschools offer open days so you and your child can visit and become familiar with the facilities, teachers and lots of fun activities.

This is a good opportunity to meet some parents and their children to set up a few playdates, so your child has some friends for their first few days at preschool.

It is perfectly normal for your little ones to have some issues with their first few days at preschool, and the teachers will help settle your little one and transition them into the day.  We find they are not upset for long once they see the other children doing activities and having fun.

The Grace Village orientation process is tailored towards your little one’s needs.  We open up as many ‘play dates’ as you would like prior to their official start date.

Play dates run for 1 to 2 hours. Parents are required to stay on site during the play date. Please feel free to contact Grace Village to arrange a session time/s with us.

(For more on preparing your child for their childcare journey, read our top tips here)

Rows of colouring pencils at a preschool

7. How to enrol my child in kindergarten/ preschool?

Grace Village ELC highly recommends you arrange for a private tour of our village.  This allows you to meet our passionate and professional educators, to see our modern and clean facilities and the array of equipment and toys.

If you are happy with our village (we know you will be!), let us know you are interested, and we will start the enrolment process for you.

  • We will email you our online enrolment form link. You will be able to attach a copy of your child’s birth certificate and My.Gov immunisation record.
  • You will also receive an email from our unique mobile app called Xplor. It’s easy to create your Xplor password, using your username as your email.
  • GV ELC will email you our direct debit link for your child care fees. Simply follow the steps to upload your payment details.
  • You will be emailed your child’s start date and time

8. How much does daycare/ preschool cost?

Preschool fees will vary between centres and are usually charged on a per day basis.  There may be charges for administration, bonds and other fees.  It is best to check with each childcare centre.

Centrelink has available child care benefits for eligible families. You will need to set up your childcare benefit with Centrelink.

This benefit is based on income and calculates a child care benefit package percentage (CCB%) which will vary between families.  This percentage will determine how much your preschool fees will be.

In addition to the CCB, there is also a Child Care Rebate (CCR) available depending on your work or study status.  This is also calculated as a percentage off the cost of childcare and can be paid directly to the childcare centre or into your bank account.

Check out our blog on the Child Care Subsidy for more details and how to claim.


Click here to book your personal tour and discover more about Grace Village Early Learning Centre


An excited boy standing against a white wall

9. How do I take advantage of the Child Care Rebate with my Grace Village childcare fees?

  • Call Centrelink on 13 61 50 or contact them via your Centrelink online account via my.gov.au or through the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
  • Set up your child care benefit account. Centrelink will ask you questions based on your income to work out a childcare benefit package percentage (CCB%).  From your CCB %, Grace Village will be able to calculate your out of pocket child care fees.

Grace Village will only charge you out of pocket fees based on what is not covered by Centrelink.

  • Ask about Child Care Rebate as well. Depending on your work/study status you may be entitled to 50% of your fees being covered through the CCR. You can choose to have this amount paid to yourself or Grace Village Early Learning.

10. What forms do I need to complete to enrol my child?

Each child care centre has its own enrolment procedure, so it is best to check with the centre on the exact requirements. Basic documentation such as birth certificate, immunisation records, proof of address will be needed.

Grace Village Early Learning requires you to complete our enrolment form with your child’s birth certificate.

We will also need a few more documents from you.

  1. Immunisation

Documentation proof regarding your child’s immunisation must be supplied.  Parents/carers must provide a copy of one or more of the following documents to enrol your child with us:

  • an AIR Immunisation History Statement which shows that the child is up to date with their scheduled vaccinations or
  • an AIR Immunisation History Form on which the immunisation provider has certified that the child is on a recognised catch-up schedule (temporary for 6 months only) or
  • an AIR Immunisation Medical Exemption Form which has been certified by a GP.

No other form of documentation is acceptable (such as the Interim Vaccination Objection Form or Blue Book).

  1. Proof of your child’s address – the originals of significant documents such as a council rates notice, a residential lease and electricity or water bill.
  2. A low-income health care card (if applicable).
  3. Any family law or relevant court orders (if applicable).

Four healthy, happy preschoolers laughing

11. Does my child have to be immunised to enrol in child care?

Yes. Full documentation of your child’s immunisation will need to be shown upon enrolment.

The NSW Immunisation Schedule sets out the age-appropriate vaccines for children and you can find the schedule here.

You can check your child is up to date with their vaccinations on their AIR Immunisation History Statement.

The only unimmunised children who can be enrolled in child care after 1 January 2018 are those who are on a recognised catch-up schedule (provided that the appropriate documentation has been provided), or those who are unimmunised due to medical reasons as described in the Australian Immunisation Handbook) (the appropriate documentation will need to be provided), or children who are too young to be immunised (under 2 months of age).

What if my child was vaccinated overseas?

Overseas immunisation records need to be assessed by an Australian immunisation provider first.

The immunisation provider will transfer the information to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Parents then request an AIR Immunisation History Statement which can be used for their child care enrolment.

Exterior render view of Grace Village ELC in Huntingwood, NSW


We hope you found this guide to enrolling your child in preschool helpful?

Did we answer your question? If we did, please share this post with your friends & family!

And if you do have a question you don’t see answered here, leave us a comment below, get in touch with our amazing team on 1300 854 388, or via the contact form – we’re happy to help!


Click here to book your personal tour and discover more about Grace Village Early Learning Centre


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Grace Village Early Learning Centre
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I heard about grace village the minute it opened through friends. I always thought one day when I had my next baby I’ll send him there and i had my baby and started him at grace village. It really is... childcare reimagined. All the staff are so welcoming & friendly. They took onboard any information I had regarding my little one and helped me through some milestones with him. We are only leaving grace village because we got into a centre closer to home literally around the corner. I can’t thank them enough for making my return to work so easy leaving your baby isn’t easy but they kept me up to date which was re assuring that he was in good hands. Thank you Grace Village for the short amount of time we spent there.read more
Sara L.
Sara L.
One of the best experience of our life and best decision to have our kid in Grace Village. Best teachers and whole staff. Bundle of thanks to the whole team.Highly recommended.
Zeeshan A.
Zeeshan A.
If I could give more stars, I would! Grace Village is an exceptional centre! Chantel and Ray go out of their way to provide the best quality care from the moment you walk in the door. Both of my... children have attended the centre for the past three years. Both the boys have loved every moment at the centre and have huge smiles when we pick them up. The staff provide interesting and varied activities and are truly dedicated to making every day an enjoyable experience for the children. Sadly we are having to relocate but it is has been very hard to find a centre that compares. We will miss GV!!read more
Sarah S.
Sarah S.
GV has fantastic facilities including a third space for parents, an art atelier, lovely free-play outdoor spaces, and an epic undercover play area that allows children to be feel as though they are... playing outdoors when the weather doesn’t allow for true outside play. No other centre we have toured has offered play areas like this.We chose GV for our children because of their play-based (Reggio Emilia) philosophy and approach. We love that our little people have been able to be barefoot most of the time, supporting sensory feedback and encouraging their physical and mental development.Everyone at GV shows love for our children as they would their own. GV has been our home away from home, our family and greatest support through some very hard times.Thank you to all the nurturing educators, carers and all of the GV tribe for guiding our young man and little lady through their special formative and most impressionable years.read more
Bee V
Bee V
Grace Village is a fantastic family run early learning centre. We’ve been sending our kids there for almost 4 years and we feel safe knowing that our kids are in great care.
Attila J.
Attila J.
Best preschool I could ask for to send my children too. I am a childcare educator myself & I can’t fault grace village. They really do go above and beyond for the children & ensure they are cared &... educated at an exceptional level.read more
Tara A.
Tara A.
My child has attended this lovely village for almost 4 years. Awesome learning center as there is always a little bit of extra effort in every single thing that they do. They have amazing and... friendly staff, great facilities and all round activities to ensure that a child develops physically,socially,emotionally and mentally well balanced. In each special occasion they have given us special memories whether in the app, physical souvenirs and lots of memories we’ll look back on when they grow older. My son is now in kindy but he still misses the staff and his friends there. Amazing and highly recommended team !read more
Maria De V.
Maria De V.
My two children have been with Grace Village from 8months old. Just over 3years later, we are relocating, and finding it hard to find a learning centre that is up to the standard of GV. The entire... team at Grace Village has always given our two children such high quality education, care, and emotional support. Communication was always open and clear. It’s really is a village environment, we are blessed to have been a part of & will miss everyone who made a beautiful impact on our children’s first years of life. Thank you Grace Village!read more
stacey K.
stacey K.
We really enjoyed the 4 year experience at Grace Village.Our kids were in the door from when Grace Village first opened and they managed to create a real community feel at this centre.The kids... loved the different play spaces and they always managed to give the children great learning experiences.We really really miss this centre is was a part of our daily routine.We will definitely miss the awesome staff too (and the odd morning coffee and breakfast treat! :-)2022 will feel so strange without Grace Village!read more
Stu E.
Stu E.
Grace Village is the best trustworthy, professional and reliable ELC you can take your child too. Kind , caring and loving educators who gives loads of love and attention to your child. My child n I... have had the best experience at Grace Village ELC, we will dearly miss you guys 😊. Thank you for everythingread more
Elina Q.
Elina Q.
Phenomenal. I’m so lucky to have found Grace Village.What a team of amazing professionals who care for your child as their own. I’m so sad my sons time has come to an end and moving up to Kindy. You... will always be in our hearts and have taught my son SO much!! I cannot ever Thankyou all enough.read more
Casey O.
Casey O.
Thank you for the last 2 years, my little one enjoyed her time ar Grace Village. The centre is clean, new and has an amazing play based philosophy. I would recommend Grace Village to family and... friends. Chantel is very professional and approachable, the educators are so lovely! My little one built friendships with her peers and has been supported by her educators. I had 2 previous experiences with other daycares that were awful, Grace Village has definitely met my expectations and I plan to enrol my other little one in the future!read more
Hiba F.
Hiba F.
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