The South Australian Government has announced that, starting in 2026, three children’s centres will begin offering preschool programs for three-year-olds. This move is part of the state’s effort to develop and improve its new preschool model.
The decision follows recommendations from the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, chaired by Julia Gillard, which highlighted the benefits of providing all children with two years of high-quality, teacher-led preschool education. Research shows that these programs support young children’s development, giving them a stronger foundation for school and life.
The selected centres for the trial are:
Ocean View College Children’s Centre, Taperoo South
Brentwood Drive Kindergarten, Huntfield Heights
Riverbanks College Preschool, Angle Vale
Children living in the local areas who meet the eligibility criteria will be given priority for available spots at these centres. Aboriginal children and children in care will continue to have access to the preschool program.
In addition to these centres, the state will start offering three-year-old preschool in long day care services from 2026. The roll-out will be phased: regional and rural areas will start in 2026 and 2027, followed by the greater Adelaide area in 2028, and metro Adelaide by 2029 and 2030. By 2032, all three-year-olds in South Australia will have access to quality, universal preschool programs.
Until then, all children will still have a place in their local government preschool in the year before they start school.
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