Your child may spend seven years at primary school, from Foundation to Year 6. The best primary school for your family is usually one that is close, where your child feels safe and known, and where the teaching of reading and numeracy is strong. This checklist helps you find it.
Start close to home
Primary school is a daily routine for young children and their families. A short walk or drive matters more than it sounds: it means friends nearby, easier pick-ups and less tiredness. Start with your local government school, which your child has a right to attend, then add any Catholic or independent schools within reach. Find primary schools near you to see them all with distances.
Before you visit
- Check which government school is local for your address, using your state's official map.
- Read each school's own website: its values, its size, and how it describes learning support.
- Look at its My School profile, and compare its results with similar schools, not with every school.
- Note the open day or tour dates, and when enrolments for Foundation close.
Questions to ask on a tour
- How do you teach children to read in the first years, and how do you check their progress?
- How big are classes, and are there composite (multi-age) classes?
- How do you support children who need extra help, or who are ready for more challenge?
- How do you help new Foundation students settle, and is there a transition program?
- What happens at lunch and recess, and how do you handle friendship problems and bullying?
- Is there outside school hours care on site, and does it have places?
- How do teachers keep in touch with parents, and how can families get involved?
- For Catholic and independent schools: what do fees include, and what is charged as an extra?
What to watch for
Watch how children behave in the playground and the corridors, and how staff speak to them. Look at the work on the walls: is it varied, and does it come from every child, or only the best? Notice whether the principal and teachers know children's names. If you can, ask a current family what their child enjoys, and what they would change.
Deciding
Go back to the list you made of what matters for your child. A school that suits their temperament and is easy to get to is usually a better choice than one with a stronger reputation that is a long trip away. Read My School, NAPLAN and ICSEA explained before letting results decide, and school starting age by state if you are deciding when to start.
Common questions
- Does it matter which primary school my child goes to for high school entry?
- In most states your local government high school depends on your address, not your primary school. In Tasmania, high school places follow feeder arrangements from the primary school. Some Catholic and independent secondary schools give priority to students from their own primary schools.
- Are small primary schools better than large ones?
- Neither is better in itself. Small schools can feel close-knit and have composite classes; large schools may offer more specialist programs and more children of the same age to make friends with. Think about which would suit your child.
- What is a composite class?
- A composite class combines two year levels, such as Years 3 and 4, with one teacher. They are common in smaller schools. Teachers plan for each child's level; ask the school how it groups children and why.
- When should I visit primary schools?
- Visit during the year before your child starts, ideally in the first half of the year, because many schools hold Foundation information sessions and tours then. For popular Catholic and independent schools, start a year or two earlier.
Sources
We check guides against official sources. Rules can change, and some details vary by area, so check with the source before you act.
Last updated 1 November 2026.