Department of Education and Training

Ensuring quality education and care

The early years of life have an enormous impact on a child's health, wellbeing and lifelong learning. That's why it is so important that children have access to quality preschool and early education and care programs.

The Department of Education and Training's Early Childhood Policy and Regulations unit is responsible for:

• integrated early childhood services
• administering the national education and care regulations
• community engagement about early childhood and parenting
• preschools, mobile preschools, play groups and the early years of school.

The unit is able to provide education and care services with advice regarding their legislative obligations and how to deliver quality care.

Finding childcare

The Australian Government's mychild website can help you to decide what kind of childcare will best suit your needs and those of your child. It provides a description of the different types of child care:

• Long day care
• Family day care
• In-home care
• Outside school hours care
• Occasional

The website can also help you to find childcare that suits you through its search page.

Starting school in the Northern Territory

School is compulsory in the Northern Territory from the age of six, but quality early childhood education earlier than this can help to provide the basis for a lifetime of successful learning.

Preschool is not compulsory, although it is highly recommended. Children can enrol in government preschools as they are turning four years of age. At a number non-government early learning centres, children may be eligible to start earlier than this.

Children start Transition as they approach five years of age, this is also a non compulsory stage of schooling. Children are in Transition for up to 12 months and move into Year 1 when the school and parents agree they are ready. Students attend primary school until they complete Year 6.

The NT Curriculum Framework (NTCF) forms the basis of learning programs from preschool onwards.

Choosing a school for your child

Government schools are not zoned unless a school has reached or is about to reach capacity. If a school is full or almost full, children from within the schools feeder area will have priority.

To choose a school for your child, call the schools that may be suitable and arrange a time to visit or speak with the principal or a senior staff member.

Contact details for Territory schools are available from the Department of Education and Trainings school locations and maps website.

School hours

Most primary and secondary schools are open from 8.00am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday. Preschools offer morning and afternoon sessions for students. Some schools alter their hours to suit local conditions. Extracurricular activities such as rehearsals, excursions and sports activities are often held outside normal school hours.

Costs and uniforms

Government schools do not charge tuition fees. However, most schools ask parents or carers to pay an annual school levy. The levy is not compulsory but, since it is used to complement existing programs and provide additional resources for students, most parents are willing to pay. The amount of the levy is determined by the schools council or parent body.

Parents are also responsible for funding school excursions, camps and extracurricular activities.

There is no Territory-wide uniform policy for government schools. Each school has its own school uniform policy and a sun safety policy.

Your role in your child's schooling

Northern Territory schools recognise the key role parents and carers play in their children's education. Parents are encouraged to be involved in a variety of ways, from listening to a child's reading to being a part of school management through the school council. More

Related links

• Childcare guides and resources
• School term dates
• Northern Territory Curriculum Framework