Starting School
Guide for Parents
This guide for parents contains useful and important information for preparing your son or daughter as they embark on their formal schooling and for life at school in general. The booklet also contains a list of helpful web sites and contact numbers should you require further information.
Starting School - A guide for parents 
(1.45mb)
Starting School
Parents, carers and families know what an exciting, important and busy time it is when children start school for the first time.
It is common for children, and their parents, to be a little anxious about starting school. Parents and carers can do a lot to help children with the preparations for their first day of school.
ACT public schools work with parents to ensure the first days and weeks of school are as engaging and supportive as they can be for children of all ages and abilities.
Our schools plan a range of learning experiences that respond to their needs, existing skills, individual learning styles and rates of progress.
In the ACT it is compulsory for children aged from 6 to 15 years old to be enrolled at a school. Parents are responsible for ensuring their child attends school.
Parents enrolling their child in school need to provide proof of their child's date of birth as well as their immunisation status and any medical conditions such as allergies.
Starting School - A guide for parents (1.45mb) provides a range of useful information, advice and tips to assist families with children starting kindergarten in ACT public schools.
Starting secondary school
For most adolescents starting secondary school is a positive time although some students may experience some anxiety about attending a different, larger school with more students and more specialist facilities. Secondary school also involves new and different organisational arrangements to those they are used to from primary school.
Adolescents need support from their parents and carers as they make the transition to secondary school or, in the case of Preschool to Year 10 schools, programs designed specifically for adolescents. Parents can assist their child to be positive about the exciting new challenges and opportunities secondary school will bring.
ACT public schools provide a range of programs to assist adolescents with the transition to secondary school.
Schools have orientation days or programs to welcome children and parents. Please contact your local public school if you would like more information about these activities and the range of student support programs available from ACT public schools.
