Kindergarten in Tasmanian Government Schools

Why is Kindergarten important?

Kindergarten is a valuable experience for children. Young children learn an enormous amount between birth and age 5.  The skills and values learnt in the first few years of life stay with children forever and affect their ability to learn and succeed for the rest of their lives.

What happens at Kindergarten?

At Kindergarten children:

  • Learn through play and activities planned by the teacher guided by the Early Years Learning Framework.
  • Play with other children and discover, create, improvise and imagine.
  • Test out their ideas, ask questions and expand their thinking.
  • Use a wide range of equipment specially designed to support their learning.
  • Spend time playing and learning as part of small and large groups and on their own.
  • Build independence, confidence and skills for getting along with others.
  • Develop literacy and numeracy skills and learn about the world around them.

When does your child go to Kindergarten?

  • Kindergarten is play-based learning. Registered teachers use play as a fun way of engaging your child in learning.
  • Most Kindergartens in Tasmania are situated on a primary school site.
  • If your child is four years old on 1 January in any year they can go to Kindergarten.
  • Your child will be able to attend Kindergarten for 15 hours a week.
  • Sessions may be half day or full day depending on the school.

What early learning programs are available before Kindergarten?

  • Schools also offer early years’ programs to support families and young children’s learning and the transition to school. These include Birth to 5 initiatives, Launching into Learning, and pre-Kindergarten sessions. Parents and children attend these sessions together.
  • Working Together – supporting early learning is opening up opportunities for eligible children to participate in up to 400 hours of free, quality early learning in a long day care centre in the year before they start kindergarten. For more information please go to the Working Together web page.
  • Child and Family Learning Centres located around the state are also places where parents and children can go together to have fun and access education and health services.

Can your child go to Kindergarten before they turn four?

  • Children who are formally identified as gifted may be eligible to start Kindergarten early – and they must be aged at least three years and six months as of 1 January in the year in which they will start.
  • If you are seeking early Kindergarten enrolment because your child is gifted you must notify the principal of the school by the last Friday in August (mid-term 3) of the year prior to enrolment to allow time for assessment of the application.
  • Early entry may also be permitted for a child who has previously been enrolled in a school in another state or territory and who now resides in Tasmania.

Where can I get more information: