Our Preschool

Why choose our public preschool?

Our public preschool is a fee-free preschool at Five Dock. It’s an easy choice for local families with young children.

We give every child the start in early childhood education. At our preschool, children explore, ask questions and grow in a safe and caring place. Our friendly team helps each child learn and feel good through fun, hands-on play that builds confidence and curiosity.

We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our preschool. Contact us to talk to our team, book a tour or join our waitlist.

Preschool days and hours

Our preschool is open for 6 hours a day, on the same days as all NSW public schools. To learn about our preschool hours, please contact us.

Fees

We do not charge fees to attend our preschool. NSW public preschools are funded by the NSW government.

Attendance

Public preschools enrol children for one year only, the year before they start school.

Children can enrol from the beginning of the school year if they turn 4 years of age before 31 July that year.

Meals

Children bring their own meals and snacks to preschool. For more information, please contact us.

How to enrol - the Application Process

Preschool plays a vital role in shaping children's early development, and Five Dock Public School is proud to provide a preschool program that has been rated as 'exceeding'. Our program offers a nurturing and stimulating environment that fosters children's social, emotional, and cognitive skills, laying a strong foundation for their upcoming educational experiences. Public preschool enrolment is for one year, typically the year before children begin formal schooling.

For families considering preschool at Five Dock in 2027, here is important information regarding the Expression of Interest process:

Application Timeline: Expressions of Interest to enrol in Five Dock Public School Preschool for 2027 will be accepted from 9.00am on Tuesday 21 April 2026.
How to Apply: Families can express their interest by completing the Expression of interest to enrol in a NSW public preschool. The completed application can be emailed or submitted in person to the Five Dock Public School office. Applications will be time and date stamped upon receipt. Applications cannot be accepted before 9.00am on Tuesday 21 April. Please note that in order for your application to be considered, the school requires for all paperwork to be sighted prior to when the panel meets early in Term 3. The EOI can still be emailed through. The documents that need to be sighted at any time during Term 3 are: Birth Certificate or Passport, Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) Immunisation History Statement, confirmation of residential address and any health care card documentation.

Five Dock Public School's preschool offers a maximum of 40 enrolment places each year. Due to high demand, we regularly receive more expressions of interest than available places. As a result, the time and date stamp of each submitted expression of interest is considered as part of our enrolment offer process.

Priority Consideration: NSW public preschools prioritise enrolment for identified groups in our community, as determined by the NSW Department of Education guidelines. The three priority groups are:
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children
- Children living in low socioeconomic circumstances
- Children unable to access other early childhood services due to disadvantage

Once priority group enrolments are determined, first round offers are made to children living within the Five Dock Public School enrolment intake area. While sibling attendance at Five Dock Public School is not a priority group criterion, students with siblings currently enrolled will be given consideration.