Preschool and kindergarten services
In South Australia, ‘preschool’ and ‘kindergarten’ are the same.
At preschool your child will learn through play-based programs designed and delivered by qualified teachers.
When your child can start preschool
Your child is entitled to access one year of preschool.
If your child turns four before 1 May, they can start preschool at the beginning of the year. If your child turns four on or after 1 May, they can start the next year.
If your child is Aboriginal or under the guardianship of the minister they are eligible to start preschool after they turn three.
Early entry
If your child has additional needs or a disability, they may be able to access preschool up to two terms earlier, if the preschool has places available.
Where your child can access preschool
Preschool programs can be offered by:
- preschools
- kindergartens
- early learning centres
- children’s centres for early childhood development and parenting (children’s centres)
- integrated centres.
Integrated and children’s centres offer two or more programs or services, such as:
- child care
- playgroup
- preschool
- early education and learning
- early development
- health services
- family support.
Use our school and preschool finder to locate a government preschool service near you.
Enrolling your child
Preschools will give priority to children living in the preschool’s catchment area. You should register your child with your local preschool even if you are looking elsewhere. If you are not applying to your local preschool, you should register interest with at least three other preschools.
You must provide a registration of interest form to every preschool you are looking at. You can register at any time of year but you should submit a preschool interest form to the preschool by 30 June in the year before your child is due to start. You can also get this form from the preschool.
Preschools will send out offer letters in term three. You can accept the offer by filling in and sending back the acceptance slip by the due date. You will then need to complete the preschool enrolment form, and submit it to your child’s preschool.
Immunisation
It’s important that children are immunised because it helps to protect them and others from preventable diseases. Vaccination is a simple, safe and effective way of providing immunisation against disease.
When you enrol your child in their preschool you will be asked to provide evidence of their immunisation status. You can provide immunisation evidence by showing a copy of your child’s:
- SA Child Health and Development record (known as the Blue Book)
- Australian Immunisation Register history statement. To obtain a copy:
- visit the Australian Immunisation Register
- visit a Medicare service centre
- phone 1800 653 809
- email acir@medicareaustralia.gov.au.
If there is an occurrence of a vaccine-preventable disease at the preschool and your child is not up to date with their immunisations, or if you don’t provide evidence of your child’s immunisation status, you must keep your child away for a period of time known as an exclusion period.
The exclusion period is decided by SA Health and is to protect those who are at risk of getting the disease and those who may be able to pass the disease onto others.
For more information on preschool services and immunisations, contact the education department on 8207 2458 or at decd.ecsupport@sa.gov.au.
Support for children with additional needs or disability
If your child has additional needs or disability they might be eligible for extra support at their preschool.
For more information visit the disability support at preschool page or contact the director of your child’s preschool.
Related information
On this site
Other websites
Parenting Easy Guides (PEGs)
Playgroups and playcentres
Contact
For more information contact your local preschool.
For preschool intake date enquiries contact the education department on 8207 2458 or via email at decd.ecsupport@sa.gov.au.
