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At preschool your child will learn through play-based programs designed and delivered by qualified early childhood teachers. In South Australia, 'preschool' is the same as 'kindergarten'.
Preschools may be:
- a standalone preschool centre
- co-located with a school
- co-located with a long day care (childcare) service.
Who preschool is for
Year-before-school preschool
All South Australian children are entitled to a place in a government preschool in the year before full time school (4 to 5-year-olds).
Families can choose to receive their funded 4-year-old preschool place in a partnered non-government long day care or sessional service.
3-year-old preschool
From 2026, South Australian children will gain access to the new teacher-led Flying Start 3-year-old preschool program.
Services delivering the Flying Start 3-year-old preschool in 2026 are located across metropolitan, regional and rural South Australia.
More long day care and preschool services will start offering the program every year, and all children will have access to a place by 2032. Families can choose to receive their 3-year-old preschool program in a partnered non-government long day care or sessional service where 3-year-old preschool is offered.
From 2026 to 2032, 3-year-old preschool will generally be for 15 hours per week - or 600 hours per year. But services can offer between 6 to 15 hours during the rollout, depending on preschool capacity.
Aboriginal children and children in care will keep their existing access to 3-year-old preschool in government preschools.
Find a preschool service
Find a government preschool - Department for Education.
Find a Flying Start partner service (3-year-old preschool) - Office for Early Childhood Development
Enrolment
Your child is entitled to one year of preschool in the year before school, and may be able to access up to 2 years from the age of 3 where universal 3-year-old preschool is available.
Find preschool enrolment information on the Department for Education website.
Immunisation
When you enrol your child in preschool you will be asked for a copy of their current immunisation record.
Learn more about immunisation requirements for early childhood services.
Progress reports at preschool
Preschool staff make observations about what children know, what they can do and what they understand. This information is analysed and fed back to parents in various ways.
See preschool progress reports for parents to learn more about how children are progressing and what reports are available.
Support for children with additional needs or a disability
If your child has additional needs or a disability they might be eligible for extra support at their preschool.
Disability support at preschool has more information, or contact the director of your child’s preschool.
Contact
Government preschool enquiries
For government preschool intake date enquiries contact the Department for Education on 8226 1000 or free call 1800 088 158 or fill in the Department for Education general enquiry, feedback or complaint form.
3-year-old preschool enquiries
Find information about 3-year-old preschool and contact details on the Office for Early Childhood Development website.
Related information
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Other websites
Department for Education:
