The South Australian Government has announced the launch of its new three-year-old preschool initiative, starting with three key metropolitan sites. Ocean View College Children’s Centre, Brentwood Drive Kindergarten, and Riverbanks College Preschool will begin offering programs in 2026. These sites will serve as the first steps in the state’s broader plan to introduce the new preschool model.
This initiative is part of a series of reforms aimed at improving early childhood education in South Australia. A major component of the reform is a $96.6 million investment designed to attract and retain qualified early childhood teachers. Additionally, new legislation will be introduced to enhance outcomes in the sector.
Premier Peter Malinauskas stressed the importance of this project, calling it “the largest reform to education in decades.” He highlighted that the expansion of the workforce is crucial to support the success of this initiative and to position South Australia as a leader in early childhood education.
Blair Boyer, Minister for Education, Training, and Skills, explained that these demonstration sites would play a vital role in shaping the statewide rollout of the preschool programs. “The insights we gain from these metropolitan sites will help ensure the effective delivery of preschool for three-year-olds across South Australia,” he said.
Research from the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care shows that two years of quality preschool benefits all children, with the most significant impact on those from disadvantaged backgrounds. As a result, the government has developed a geographic rollout plan for the programs, beginning with regional and rural areas in 2026 and 2027. The greater Adelaide area will follow in 2028, with metropolitan Adelaide covered between 2029 and 2030.
The government’s mixed-sector approach will involve long day care centres, early learning centres, and government preschools to deliver the programs effectively. Alongside the demonstration sites, the rollout will extend to long day care services in 2026, with expressions of interest currently being accepted.
This overhaul of early childhood education aims not only to improve educational outcomes but also to strengthen connections between families, preschool programs, and health and support services. The goal is to reduce the number of South Australian children entering school developmentally vulnerable.
By 2032, the government plans for every three-year-old in the state to have access to high-quality, teacher-led preschool programs, setting a strong foundation for their future educational success.
In summary, the insights gathered from the metropolitan demonstration sites will be critical in refining the preschool initiative as it expands across South Australia. This proactive approach to early childhood education promises long-term benefits for all children in the state.
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