Preschool in South Australia

Grow your child’s confidence to be ready for school.

We invite you to meet the local leaders in Preschool at Goodstart, with enrolments now open.

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What is preschool?

In South Australia, preschool is two years before Reception and sets your child up with the skills they need to be ready for big school.

A quality early learning program in the year before Reception.
Play-based learning environments.
Pre-Reception programs designed and delivered by a qualified preschool teacher.

Why choose Goodstart?

Goodstart’s enhanced, government-approved Preschool program is led by degree-qualified teachers and educators who nurture curiosity, inspire discovery and bring learning to life through purposeful play, setting your child up for the best start to school. With family-friendly hours year-round, we’re here to support you in balancing modern family life and all the moments that matter.

Goodstart Preschool in South Australia

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.
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.
4-year-old preschool
- To be eligible to enrol at the beginning of the year, children must turn 4 before 1^st of May.
- To be eligible to enrol in mid-year intake at the start of term 3, children must turn 4 between 1^st of May to 31^st of October.
- Please see the South Australian Government website for more information on when your child can start preschool.
3-year-old preschool
- Flying Start 3-year-old preschool is rolling out across South Australia in 2026. More services will start offering the program each year, with all children having access to a place by 2032.
- 3-year-old children will be eligible to receive up to 15 hours of teacher-led preschool per week.
- Children must be aged 3 by 30 April (for term 1 enrolment) or 3 by 31 October (for mid-year enrolment) of the year in which they are to be enrolled in the funded program.
- Click here find out more https://www.earlychildhood.sa.gov.au/for-parents-and-carers/give-your-child-a-flying-start-with-3-year-old-preschool.
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.
Our centres offer longer hours and more flexible options than many other preschools, including 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 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.
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.
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.