Page Content Going to school Term datesSchool term dates and holidays in Victoria. How to choose a school and enrolQuestions to ask yourself, visit schools, when and how to enrol, moving from year 6 to 7.School zonesHow your closest government school is measured, neighbourhood zones and restrictions, enrolment orders for students.School costs and feesWhat voluntary payments schools can request from you, what extra items and activities you may choose to pay for, how to lower your costs and what you can do if you're having financial difficulties.School uniformsRules for school uniforms, buy a uniform, get help with the cost of your child's uniform.Moving from primary to secondary school: information for parents and carersThe steps for parents to move their child from primary to secondary school.Tips for starting schoolWays you can help your child have a positive start to school.Attendance and missing schoolWhat you must do if your child will miss school, truancy, if your child refuses to go to school.Travelling to schoolHow your child can get to school and home again, support if you live in regional Victoria, students with a disability.Parents getting involved at schoolVolunteering at school, parent clubs, become a school council member.Types of schoolAn overview of the different types of schools in Victoria.Changing schoolsHow to make the move as smooth as possible for your child.Raise a complaint or concern about your schoolWhat to think about beforehand, how to make a complaint, use a support person, if you're not satisfied with the response.Selective Entry High SchoolsEligibility, how to apply, sitting the entrance exam, practice tests.Find your school's fundingHow schools are funded by the government, find your school's funding.Mobile phones in schoolsMobile phones in schoolsReport racism or religious discrimination in schoolsInformation on how to report religious or racial discrimination in the school community.Respectful behaviours in schoolsHow to build and maintain positive relationships with school staff to best support the needs of your child.Provide feedback about government schools or school staffFamilies and community members can provide a complaint, feedback to compliment the education system, school and staff or provide suggestions to assist with continuous improvement of Victorian Government schools. Learning Repeating a year levelRepeating a school year is sometimes thought of as a way for children or young person who are not performing as well as their peers to catch up or mature over an extra 12 months.Student reports and parent-teacher conferencesWhen student reports are given out and what they include. What happens in a parent-teacher conference and how to prepare.Speak to your child in the language you know bestWhy it's important to speak in the language you know best. Tips for speaking, reading and writing in your language.How to build your child's literacy skills from birth to year 2How to give your child a good start with reading and language.How to build your child's numeracy skills from birth to year 2Tips on how to build your child's skills in maths, measurement and patterns.How to build your child's literacy skills from years 3 to 6How to help build your child's skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing during school years.How to build your child's numeracy skills from years 3 to 6Tips on how to build your child's skills in maths and numeracy during their school years.Home school your childWhat home schooling involves, your responsibilities, how to register for home schooling and get support.Combine school and home educationHow you can combine home schooling with subjects at a government school, your responsibilities, your child's attendance at school.HomeworkTypes of homework your child may be given, how you can help them with homework, homework in secondary schoolSelective entry high school practice testsUse these practise tests to help prepare for the selective entry high school entrance exam.Student scholarshipsPayments to help you with the cost of your child's education. Available scholarships, how to apply and tips.Books for 2020 government school Prep students and their familiesThe 2020 Prep bag contains five children’s books for every Prep student attending a Victorian Government school. Selected by a panel of teachers, librarians and literacy experts, these books are for families to keep and enjoy with their child at home.Find a language programThe different services that offer language programs to children and young people. Career planning Talk to your child about their careerHow to talk to your child and questions to ask.Study options in year 11 and 12VCE, VCAL and VET. Subjects and study structure, hands-on training, apprenticeships and work placements.If your child wants to leave school earlyOptions for finishing year 12 out of school, who to speak to, the minimum leaving age.Study and training after your child leaves schoolOptions for your child after they leave school, what to think about in years 11 and 12. Services Help with school costs and feesOptions if you're having financial difficulties.Services for carersServices, advice and financial support for non-parent carers.Family intervention servicesFamily intervention Services offer consultation, counselling, skill development and education services including individual and group interventions. Child FIRST and family servicesChild FIRST (Child and family information, referral and support teams) are the entry point into family services located across Victoria.ParentlinePhone counselling for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old Behaviour If your child is suspended from schoolReasons why, what the principal must do, what happens next, get advice and support from us.If your child has difficult behaviourWorking with your child's school, things you can do at home, support for disabilities.Incidents at schoolWhat schools will do if there's an incident, seclusion and restraint, engagement policy.If your child is expelled from schoolReasons why, intervention meetings, get support from the school, what happens next, appeal an expulsion. Child development Making and keeping friendsThe role of friends, how you can talk to your child about their friends, social media, friendships when moving to secondary school. Students with additional needs Find out more about inclusive education Inclusive education Information and services for families of children living with disability and additional needs. Safety Bushfires 2020: Information for parents and carersInformation on schools, child care and kindergartens affected by the 2020 bushfires. Where parents and carers can get help, counselling and support.Insect bitesWhat to do if your child gets an insect bite.Preventing dog bitesHow to have your child and your dog interacting safely.Child protectionWhat to do if you think a child is being abused, mandatory reporting. Family health Looking after your child's wellbeingHow to help build and sustain your child’s wellbeing at homeLooking after your child's mental healthThings you can do to help support your child's mental healthTaking care of yourselfTips and resources about how to look after your own wellbeingKeeping your child active and eating healthyMaintaining wellbeing with physical activity and healthy eating Transforming little lives, one day at a timeA kindergarten teacher shares how the benefits of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten are far-reachingBendigo and Mallee schools take action to prevent bullyingThe National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA), Australia’s key bullying prevention event for schools, is on Friday 19 MarchFrankston North’s newest child and family centreAldercourt Child and Family Centre will become Frankston North’s newest integrated early learning centre, through the Frankston North Education Plan. Healthy meals for healthy learnersThe food your child eats can have a major influence on their ability to learn and growBuilding better SunSmart habitsMake sun safety fun for your kids this summerTravel advice for a new year of learningInformation about travelling on public transport, school bus networks and roadsPrep Bags 2021: Free books delivered to thousands of studentsChildren starting Prep at a Victorian government school will be welcomed with a bag of books and fun resourcesPopular books for school startersHelp your child prepare for their first day of kindergarten or school with some popular books about starting school.Improving VCE results at Bayswater Secondary CollegeBayswater Secondary College is celebrating its success after ranking 9th in the top 10 schools for most improved VCE results in 2020.Learning from home information for parentsFind advice, tips and resources to help parents and carers support their child’s continuity of learning from home.
Transforming little lives, one day at a timeA kindergarten teacher shares how the benefits of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten are far-reaching
Bendigo and Mallee schools take action to prevent bullyingThe National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA), Australia’s key bullying prevention event for schools, is on Friday 19 March
Frankston North’s newest child and family centreAldercourt Child and Family Centre will become Frankston North’s newest integrated early learning centre, through the Frankston North Education Plan.
Healthy meals for healthy learnersThe food your child eats can have a major influence on their ability to learn and grow
Travel advice for a new year of learningInformation about travelling on public transport, school bus networks and roads
Prep Bags 2021: Free books delivered to thousands of studentsChildren starting Prep at a Victorian government school will be welcomed with a bag of books and fun resources
Popular books for school startersHelp your child prepare for their first day of kindergarten or school with some popular books about starting school.
Improving VCE results at Bayswater Secondary CollegeBayswater Secondary College is celebrating its success after ranking 9th in the top 10 schools for most improved VCE results in 2020.
Learning from home information for parentsFind advice, tips and resources to help parents and carers support their child’s continuity of learning from home.