Our Preschool

Welcome to the Soldiers' Settlement Public School Preschool Community

Our Preschool provides that important first step in your child's education, which sets the pathway to learning and brings a sense of belonging to the wider school community. Through ongoing links and transition programs with our K-6 school, your child will be a part of our positive school community. We look forward to an exciting, challenging and rewarding learning journey with your child

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.

Enrolments for 2027

Our enrolments for 2027 will be available from our front office from 18 May, 2026. Enrolment packs may be collected from the school office.

Department of Education Preschools provide educational programs for children for one year prior to enrolment in Kindergarten.

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.

Soldiers’ Settlement Public School's enrolment applications consistently exceed the available positions so it is important to note that placement is not guaranteed.

Every application received is reviewed individually, prioritised based on the eligibility criteria contained in the preschool's Enrolment Policy and not in order of applications received.

Department of Education general guidelines

Please Note: There is a high demand for placement into the Matraville Soldiers’ Settlement Public School Preschool with the school consistently receiving more applications for enrolment than places available.

The school follows eligibility criteria set out in the Department's preschool enrolment procedures. If the number of applicants exceeds the places available, the school's placement panel will consider each application and make recommendations for placement according to the Department's eligibility criteria and priority set out below. Please note that public preschools enrol children for one year only. This year is the year before the child’s starts school.

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

In extenuating circumstances, when considering a request for an additional year of preschool, principals must:

• consult with the teacher, and parents and/or carers
• treat any enrolment for an additional year of preschool as a new application and apply the standard enrolment priority – see below.
• Children can enrol from the beginning of the school year if they turn four years of age before 31 July that year.

Priority is given to:

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children
• children living in low socio-economic circumstances
• children who are unable to access other early childhood settings due to financial hardship.

The principal of the school will then offer enrolment in the following order:

• children living within the school's catchment area
• children living outside the catchment area but have siblings at the school
• other applicants.

Preschool days and hours

Our preschool is open for 6 hours a day, on the same days as all NSW public schools. Our preschool hours are 9am to 3pm.

Fees

We do not charge fees to attend our preschool. NSW public preschools are funded by the NSW government (as at December 2025)

Meals

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