Enrolment

After all in zone enrolments have been accommodated, enrolments for other families residing outside of the school zone will be considered. Please note offers for enrolment to families residing outside of the school zone will only be considered if spaces are available. 

Families can register their interest to attend school at any stage, however the school’s acceptance of a registration of interest does not equate to an agreement for enrolment, nor will your application be ranked in order of date of lodgement. 

Special entry

1. Siblings

   If a child has a sibling currently attending the school and lives outside the zone they are able to apply to attend the school. Half-brothers and sisters are blood relatives and are considered siblings. Step-brothers and sisters who are not blood relatives will be considered siblings only if the school is satisfied the children reside at the same primary residence.

   If there is a break of more than 12 months in attendance at the school by the sibling, they are not considered currently attending.

2. Children in care

   Children in care are able to attend any government school. The child’s case worker, in liaison with the child’s carer must contact the Team Leader of the local Student Support Services (SSS) office prior to enrolment.

3. A child identified as Aboriginal
4. Other out-of-zone applications

   Acceptance of out-of-zone applications will depend on how many places available at the school.

   In these cases, applications will be considered based on the distance of the child’s residence from the school, and any other personal needs such as curriculum, social and family links, transport and location convenience or other compelling or unusual reasons.

   If there is no vacancy available, you will be encouraged to approach your local public school. Where your child is placed on the waiting list will not be disclosed.

Parents/caregivers will be invited to attend a pre-enrolment interview or information session with the school once a vacancy is offered.

Where a child’s name appears on the register is confidential. 

Families who reside in and outside of the McLaren Vale Primary School zone are able to express their interest in a position for their child. 

Families who reside within the McLaren Vale Primary School zone are guaranteed enrolment at our school. 

Families who reside outside of the McLaren Vale Primary School zone are offered positions once the in zone enrolments are filled and there are additional spaces available. 

Starting school Government primary schools have two major enrolment intakes each year for children being enrolled by their parents in Reception:

• intake 1 for children starting at the beginning of the year (term 1),
• and intake 2 for children starting mid-year (term 3).
• Children who start Reception through the mid-year (intake 2) will undertake 6 terms of reception.

Age of child eligibility:

• Turns 5 years of age before 1 May of that year can start Reception at the beginning of that year (intake 1). Children undertake 4 terms of reception.
• Turns 5 years of age between 1 May and 31 October of that year can start Reception at the beginning of term 3 of that year (intake 2). Children undertake 6 terms of reception.
• Turns 5 years of age after 31 October of that year can start reception at the beginning of following year (intake 1). Children undertake 4 terms of reception.
• Commencing school in the year a child turns 6 years of age:  for parents who do not wish to enrol their child until the year they turn 6 years of age, it is recommended the child starts school on the first day of the nearest major enrolment intake (e.g. the start of the school year or mid-year, whichever is closest in months) prior to the child turning 6 years of age.
• A child must be enrolled at a school by their 6th birthday.
• Where Aboriginal children and children who are or have been in care are to remain in preschool after their 5th birthday, it is recommended they commence school in mid-year term 3 (intake 2) so they are provided with access to 6 terms of Reception.
• If parents/caregivers determine their child will not commence school until they turn 6 years of age, the child may be enrolled at any time with consideration of the following: there have been discussions with relevant parties, i.e. the Principal/Director, parents/caregivers, and DfE Student Support Services staff in relation to transitioning to school. The discussions are documented in a transition plan to support continuity of learning and the establishment of any supports needed for the child.

Offers of intake:

Beginning of year intake:  Round One offers (in zone) will be made to families in early Term 3. Any existing offers will be made mid-late Term 3. 

Mid year intake: Round One officers (in zone) will be made to families in early Term 1.  Any existing offers will be made mid-late Term 1.

Please seek further information and register your interest by contacting our Enrolment Officer Clair Pavey on 83238741

Once an offer for enrolment is made, parent/guardians are required to complete the school enrolment form and provide the school with a copy of the following: 

1. The child’s full legal name and date of birth 

Parents must supply the school with proof of their child’s full legal name and date of birth. A copy of one of the following documents will be accepted: 

• The child’s birth certificate or extract. 
• A passport, or travel document such as a visa, citizenship certificate or ImmiCard • Centrelink documentation stating the child’s name and date of birth. 

2. The child’s permanent place of residency 

Parents must supply the school a home location where your child and a parent are primarily living. The address provided must be residential, not a commercial, posting or mailing address. 

If you own your home you are asked to provide: 

• The contract of sale for the property (or a recent council rates notice), and 
• A recent gas or electricity bill for that property. 

If you rent a home you are asked to provide: 

• A rental agreement
• A bond receipt lodged with Consumer and Business Services, and 
• A recent gas or electricity bill for that property. 

Please note: 

• The rental agreement should cover at least the first 12 months the child will be attending the school. For example, for students starting Reception in 2021, the agreement should cover the majority of the 2021 year. 
• Renting a room or rooms at a property for your child, does not constitute a primary place of residence. 
• If your child is living with a relative or friend, you will need to provide supporting documentation stating that the relative/friend is the legal guardian of the child. This documentation must include a parenting order from the Family Court, which states that the relative/friend is the formal full-time carer of the child. 

The Principal is responsible for determining whether proof of residence has been satisfied and may use professional judgement in circumstances where families are not able to meet these requirements. This may include asking parents to provide secondary sources of documentation to establish if the circumstances, whilst unusual, are genuine. 

3. Copies of any family law or other relevant court orders 

Parents must disclose any court orders (including parenting, recovery or intervention orders) which details matters that should be taken into account by a school when enrolling a child. 

4. Copies of relevant specified visas (or permission to access Visa Entitlement Verification Online) 

If English is not a parent or carer’s first language, we can arrange for interpreting and translation services. Where required, interpreters can be made available during the admission process and pre-enrolment interview. 

Upon receipt of the above to the satisfaction of the school, the processing of the parent’s enrolment application may begin. 

We hold Principal Tours 3 times a year in Terms 2, 3 and 4.  Please contact Mary-Anne Sherriff on 83238741 for more information and to book in.

For all enrolment enquiries please contact Clair Pavey, enrolment officer on 83238741 or complete our enrolment enquiry form and email to dl.0251.admin@schools.sa.edu.au 

From time to time we have spaces throughout the year in various year levels due to students leaving due to a change in circumstances.