Preschool in South Australia

Goodstart Preschool in South Australia

• Costs, fees and Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

  Your daily fees will be reduced through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), and you can use our child care fee calculator to estimate your out-of-pocket costs. 

  The South Australian Government provides funding to eligible early learning providers to put towards the delivery of a preschool program including resources to deliver a quality early childhood education program to children aged three and above. Eligibility for this funding requires that the preschool program be delivered by an early childhood teacher (ECT) with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.

• Mid-year intakes

  Government primary schools now have two enrolment intakes. Intake one is for children at the beginning of the year, and intake two starts school in term three. The following cut-off dates apply to your child's fifth birthday:

  • On or before April 30, to start reception in term one of that year.
  • Between May 1 and October 31, to start reception in term three (mid-year).
  • After October 31, reception starts in the following year.

  Children who start reception at the beginning of the year generally complete four terms (a year) of reception. Children who start reception in the mid-year intake will do six terms of reception (a year and a half). 

  If you're enrolling your child to start school mid-year in term three, you might be interested in the preschool mid-year intake the year prior. That way, your child will do four terms of preschool before starting school.

• Preschool age

  Preschool is the year of early childhood education before starting school. For children who turn 4 years old:

  • before 1 May are eligible to start preschool at the beginning of the year.
  • on 1 May to 31 October can commence preschool through the mid-year intake at the start of term 3 of that year
  • after 31 October will be eligible to commence preschool at the start of the following year.

  Please see the South Australian Government website for more information on when your child can start preschool

• What your child will learn

  Our preschool programs are designed and delivered by bachelor-qualified early childhood teachers (ECT) to prepare your child for school. Our program follows the Australian Early Years Learning Framework, or EYLF. The EYLF is play-based and supports children to grow the following skills to help them transition to school: 

  • Build social skills, like making friends and respecting others. 
  • Develop cognitive, physical and social skills. 
  • Practice early literacy and numeracy skills. 
  • Manage emotional regulation and naming how they feel. 
  • Improve communication skills, like saying what they need without getting frustrated. 

  It's easy to see play-based learning as 'just having fun'. But it's important to remember that it's not 'just playing'. Children learn through play. You can read more about what they learn in preschool.

• Opening hours

  Our centres offer longer hours and more flexible options than many other preschools, including 9 hour, 10 hour and all-day sessions.  

  Not only that, but we also know not all families have the same routine, so our programs are on offer five days a week, 52 weeks a year. 

• We offer additional support

  We meet your child at their current growth stage and regularly evaluate their milestones as they get ready to transition to school. We connect with them through their interests, ensuring they feel valued and understood. We also offer educational and behavioural support when it's needed. We respect and celebrate your children for who they are and give them what they need to become the best version of themselves. 

  If needed, we also assist families to access support services in the areas of:

  • speech and language
  • behaviour
  • social skills 
  • general development. 

  If you're concerned about any aspect of your child’s development or learning, please speak to your child’s teacher.

• Inclusive learning where everyone's welcome!

  Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. Every child deserves to feel valued and recognised for their unique qualities. We ensure our centres are inviting to all children and their families. Our commitment to reconciliation and inclusion means we build strong support networks and communities with you and your children. 

• Smooth transitions to school

  We want your child to have the social and emotional skills to start Prep confidently. We'll collaborate with school teachers, families and communities to support your child's well-being. We work closely with our local schools, giving them everything they need to know about your child.

  We also run school transition activities during the preschool year to help your child feel comfortable on their first day of Prep. We want everyone to have a smooth and supportive start for your child's education journey.