Audience

All NSW public schools.

1. Policy statement

1.1. Every child has the right to a high-quality education regardless of background or economic circumstance.

1.2. No child will be unlawfully discriminated against when enrolling in NSW Government schools, including on the grounds of sex, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

1.3. The department assists parents to enrol a child of compulsory school-age (refer to Education Act 1990 section 21B) residing in NSW in a NSW Government school to support them in meeting their duty under the Education Act 1990. (The Enrolment in Kindergarten to Year 12 procedures defines a parent as ‘A guardian or other person having the custody or care of a child’).

1.4. Parents may enrol their child in Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if the child turns 5 years of age on or before 31 July of that year. The Education Act 1990 mandates that all children must be in compulsory schooling by 6 years of age (unless exempted under the Exemption from school procedures)

1.5. Parents are entitled to enrol (refer to Education Act 1990 section 34) their child at the local school within the designated intake area, providing the child is eligible to attend and the school can accommodate them. However, parents may apply to enrol their child at any school they choose. The Secretary designates school intake areas (refer to Education Act 1990 section 34).

1.6. A child is enrolled when an application to enrol is certified as accepted by the principal, the child is placed on the enrolment register (refer to Education Act 1990 section 24) of a school and the child is in attendance. Enrolment should be in one school only at any given time; however, a child may be in attendance at more than one school in particular circumstances set out in Enrolment in Kindergarten to Year 12 procedures.

1.7. Public preschools, specialist settings, programs and services, distance education, temporary residents and international student enrolments are subject to specific procedures, eligibility criteria and assessments.

1.8. The department makes reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning so children with disability can apply for enrolment on the same basis as children without disability (refer to the Inclusive education for students with disability policy).

1.9. During the enrolment process, the principal takes into consideration the diverse learning and wellbeing needs of the child, including cultural considerations, disability, developmental age, trauma, child protection concerns, and individual needs and circumstances. This is to determine additional support for the child once they are enrolled at the school, including assessment of:

• health, safety and other risks arising from the child’s past behaviour or experiences
• any disclosed wellbeing needs of the child
• any adjustments for children with a disability
• any history of unsatisfactory attendance (when the child has been enrolled in another school) (refer to the School attendance policy)
• any disclosed health needs including whether the child has previously required an emergency response
• any disclosed learning needs and other special circumstances (such as whether the child was bullied at a previous school).

1.10. A person 18 years of age or older may only be enrolled in a NSW Government school in particular circumstances, set out in the Enrolment in Kindergarten to Year 12 procedures.

2. Context

2.1 The Education Act 1990 establishes:

• the right of every child to receive an education
• the state’s duty to ensure every child receives high quality education through the provision of public education
• a compulsory schooling obligation upon parents to ensure children of compulsory school age are enrolled and in attendance at a government school or a registered non-government school or registered for home schooling.

2.2 Specific procedures, eligibility criteria and assessments that may apply to enrolments are outlined in the following documents:

• Enrolment in Kindergarten to Year 12 procedures
• Selective high schools and opportunity class placement procedures
• Enrolment in distance education procedures
• Enrolment of temporary residents
• Enrolment in public preschools.

3. Policy contact

3.1. Director, Behaviour and Student Participation
enrolment@det.nsw.edu.au
02 7814 3869

4. Monitoring the policy

4.1. The Director, Behaviour and Student Participation monitors the implementation of this policy, regularly reviews its contents to ensure relevance and accuracy, and updates it as needed.