The rules about who can start Prep in Queensland, when to apply and what to bring are set out on a handful of Queensland Government pages. This guide gathers them in the order most families meet them. Each sentence that states a rule names the page it comes from and gives that page’s last-updated date, because the pages differ in age, and a clause joined to it by ‘and’ relies on the same page. The oldest page used here is dated 9 December 2015. It does not make claims about any individual school; each school’s own website and enrolment team are the place for that.
Who is old enough
At 10 November 2026, the Prep page (last updated 22 January 2026) of the Queensland Department of Education says Queensland children are required to undertake Prep prior to Year 1. The prep page (last updated 22 January 2026) says Prep is a full-time program that children attend from Monday to Friday during normal school hours, generally from 9am to 3pm. The Prep page (last updated 22 January 2026) says that to be eligible, children must be aged 5 years by 30 June in the year they start Prep, and that Prep is available in all Queensland state schools and most non-state schools offering a primary program.
The department’s early and delayed entry page, last updated 12 March 2026, says Prep eligibility is from the beginning of the school year in which the child will reach the age of 5 years by 30 June.
Starting early or later
At 10 November 2026, the early and delayed entry page (last updated 12 March 2026) says early entry to Prep is only possible if the child meets all the legislative conditions set out in Part 4, Section 17 of the Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2017. The page (last updated 12 March 2026) gives two routes for a child younger than the prescribed age. On that page (last updated 12 March 2026), one route is that the child turns 5 years by 31 July in the year they propose to attend Prep and the school principal is satisfied that the child is ready for education in the Prep year. The other route, on the same page (last updated 12 March 2026), is that the child has started education in another state or country that is equivalent to the Prep year, and the principal is satisfied that the child is ready. The page (last updated 12 March 2026) defines an equivalent program as full-time, school-based, and with a defined curriculum in the year prior to Year 1.
For delay, the early and delayed entry page (last updated 12 March 2026) says parents may delay their child’s entry to Prep, and subsequently Year 1, by one year if they feel that the child is not ready to start school. The page (last updated 12 March 2026) says the child can then commence Prep at the beginning of the school year in which they turn compulsory school age, which it gives as 6 years and 6 months. The page (last updated 12 March 2026) adds that no formal documentation, assessment or approval is required for delayed entry, and that principals do not make decisions on delaying a child’s entry to Prep.
Catchments and enrolment management plans
At 10 November 2026, the Prep page (last updated 22 January 2026) says Prep is offered in all state primary schools and that there are no waiting lists for enrolment in Prep at state schools. The same page (last updated 22 January 2026) also says some state schools may have an enrolment management plan in place, which means students may not be able to attend unless they live within the designated catchment area.
The school enrolment management plans page (last updated 1 October 2026) explains the idea. It says a School Enrolment Management Plan, or School EMP, is introduced in a state school which is nearing its student enrolment capacity, and that principals of these schools are required to restrict the enrolments from out-of-catchment students. The page (last updated 1 October 2026) says schools are required to implement a School EMP when enrolments reach 80% of the school’s student enrolment capacity. To enrol in a school that has one, the page (last updated 1 October 2026) says students must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in that school’s plan. The page (last updated 1 October 2026) also offers a list of Queensland schools that have a School EMP, and the Prep page (last updated 22 January 2026) says the department’s schools directory lists all state and non-state schools in Queensland.
The enrolment steps
The prep page (last updated 22 January 2026) says parents intending to enrol their child in Prep are encouraged to contact their chosen school the year prior to commencement of school. For non-state schools, the page (last updated 22 January 2026) says enrolments in Catholic or Independent schools are usually taken by application up to 2 years prior to the year of commencement.
The Queensland Government’s how-to-enrol page sets out the steps for a state school, and its own footer shows a last-updated date of 9 December 2015, so it is the oldest source used here. The how-to-enrol page (last updated 9 December 2015) says usually you can enrol your child a year ahead. Its first listed step (the page was last updated 9 December 2015) is to check whether the school has a School Enrolment Management Plan, to see if you live in their catchment area and are eligible to enrol. The page (last updated 9 December 2015) then says to contact your school, generally the year before starting, and check their website for any specific enrolment procedures, and to complete an application for student enrolment form from the school’s website or from the school. The page (last updated 9 December 2015) gives the last step as gathering any required documents needed for an enrolment interview.
Documents and information a school may ask for
Both the Prep page and the how-to-enrol page describe information a school may ask for, and the sentences below use their wording. The prep page (last updated 22 January 2026), at 10 November 2026, says documentary evidence is required when enrolling, for example the child’s birth certificate. The older how-to-enrol page (last updated 9 December 2015) lists the child’s birth certificate or passport among information schools might ask for.
For a school with a School EMP, the how-to-enrol page (last updated 9 December 2015) lists documentation required for proof of residency, with examples of a current lease agreement, rates notice or utility bill. The same list in that page (last updated 9 December 2015) includes details of the child’s previous education and care providers.
The prep page (last updated 22 January 2026) says a school may also ask for information about any medical condition or medication the child has, together with the doctor’s instructions and contact details, and for information about any other languages that might be spoken at home. The same page (last updated 22 January 2026) says parents may also be asked to pay the school P&C levy when enrolling.
Term dates
This article does not list term dates. For those, see Queensland School Term Dates for 2027.
Frequently asked questions
How old does a child need to be to start Prep in Queensland?
At 10 November 2026, the Queensland Department of Education’s Prep page (last updated 22 January 2026) says children must be aged 5 years by 30 June in the year they start Prep.
Can a child start Prep early?
At 10 November 2026, the department’s early and delayed entry page (last updated 12 March 2026) says early entry is only possible if the child meets all the legislative conditions in Part 4, Section 17 of the Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2017. The page (last updated 12 March 2026) gives one route as turning 5 years by 31 July with the principal satisfied that the child is ready.
Can a parent delay Prep?
At 10 November 2026, the early and delayed entry page (last updated 12 March 2026) says parents may delay entry by one year if they feel the child is not ready, and that no formal documentation, assessment or approval is required.
Is there a waiting list for Prep at a state school?
At 10 November 2026, the Prep page (last updated 22 January 2026) says there are no waiting lists for enrolment in Prep at state schools, and that some state schools may have an enrolment management plan, so students may not be able to attend unless they live within the designated catchment area.
