Preschool and Kindergarten - Learning Foundations
The foundations for every child’s development (social, physical, emotional, and cognitive) are formed in the period from birth through to eight years of age. Parents are a child's earliest teachers.
Play is essential for childhood development, including movement or motor skills and social and emotional skills like taking turns and sharing. Parents and caregivers also benefit from shared community play spaces and from services such as playgroups. Children at play are developing their senses and responses to sensory input through complex neurological processes. See our section on 'Play & Learning' for more information on brain development and play.
In the ACT, children from 3 to 5 years of age can attend free public preschool prior to kindergarten.
Enrolling in a public preschool in the ACT
Enrolment for preschool and kindergarten can be completed through an online form from the ACT Education Directorate - don't worry if you can't finish it all at once, you can save the form and return to it later. Complete the online form here.