Preschool in South Australia

Preschool and OSHC in SA 

On this page: 

Preschool funding 

LDC vs public preschool

Benefits of LDC preschool

Preschool ages 

Starting Reception

Enrol for extra days and OSCH

Play-based learning and the EYLF 

Flexible sessions

Tailored preschool programs 

Smooth school transition 

Inclusive learning 

Enrol for 2025! 

Preschool funding for SA families  

The South Australian government provides services with funding for preschool programs for up to 15 hours per week (for a maximum of 600 hours per year) for each eligible child in their year before full time schooling.

Eligibility for this funding requires that the preschool program be delivered by a early childhood teacher (ECT) with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. This funding is given to your early learning provider 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.

Please note: this funding does not result in a fee reduction for the cost of care, however there are additional subsidies available to concession card holders or First nations children which may result in a discount to your out-of-pocket fees.

LDC vs public preschool programs: What's the difference? 

At Goodstart, we're a long day care (LDC) program provider. We operate five days a week, 52 weeks a year, except on public holidays. We also offer government-approved preschool programs and undergo the same strict approval process as public preschools. 

A preschool must do the following to get government approval:  

• Deliver a quality early childhood education program to children aged three and above.
• A preschool teacher or early childhood teacher (ECT) with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education designs and delivers the program. 
• The program must be play-based and follow the Early Years Learning Framework. 

Our programs meet these criteria and run during extended LDC hours. This means your child gets extra preschool enrichment led by an ECT all year round. 

Benefits of attending our LDC preschool program

We know we're not free, and government preschool is great if your lives fit around preschool hours and the add-on days outside of these. But a lot of families struggle with that.

Here are the benefits of enrolling at an LDC preschool: 

• Your family's routines stay the same from childcare into preschool. 
• Our extended hours fit around your work and life commitments.
• Your preschooler stays in one centre all day, every week until they start transition.  
• Your child can form deep connections with their educators (and their educators with them). 
• The security that comes with consistency and the opportunity for your child to grow another year in a learning environment where they feel safe. 

Our LDC preschool program is excellent if your child (or you!) isn't a fan of big changes and transitions. 

When can my child start preschool? 

Currently, in South Australia (SA), preschool is the year of early childhood education before starting school. 

Check the following cut-off dates that apply to your child's fourth birthday:

• On or before April 30, they can start preschool at the beginning of the year in January.
• From May 1 to October 31, they can start preschool in the mid-year intake at the start of term 3. 
• After October 31, they'll be eligible for preschool starting the following year.

Your child will do four terms of preschool, regardless of when they started. 

New cut-off dates for reception

Government primary schools now have two enrollment 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.

Non-government schools have their own process for application and enrolment — contact them for more information.

Outside school hours care (OSHC)

If an LDC preschool program isn't an option, you can enrol your child in a Goodstart preschool program on the days they can't attend their government preschool. This way, your child can attend Goodstart on days not covered at your government preschool. 

Your CCS will discount any out-of-pocket fees paid outside your free government preschool hours. 

Play-based learning that's government-approved

Our preschool programs follow the Australian Early Years Learning Framework or EYLF. The EYLF is play-based and supports children to grow the following skills in preparation for their transition to school:

• Social skills, like making friends and respecting others.
• Participation in groups and learning to take turns.
• Emotional regulation and naming how they feel.
• Empathy, like reading and understanding the feelings of others.
• 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 play-based learning and the EYLF.

Choose sessions that work for you  

We provide flexibility and convenience for busy families with:

• longer opening hours, Monday to Friday 
• nine-hour, 10-hour and all-day sessions
• our preschool programs are in long day care (LDC) format. 

 Choosing an LDC format for preschool means your child's early learning goes beyond the five hours a day they'd get if they went to a public preschool. Public preschools have four terms and operate during school hours. This is great if you've got the flexibility to work around school hours and can take school holidays off. But this isn’t possible for most families. 

At Goodstart preschools, you can drop them off on your way to work and pick them up on your way home. If you’ve got more than one child in care, this means there’s only one pickup and drop off, too. You don't need to max out your annual leave to take off school holidays, either.  

We'll support your child's unique learning journey 

• We'll meet them where they are developmentally. 
• We assess and review their progress throughout the years leading up to kindergarten and ensure everything is on track. 
• We explore their passions with them so they feel seen and valued. We offer extra educational support if it's needed. 

 At Goodstart, we appreciate your child for who they are and where they're going. 

Our programs are designed to ease confidently into reception

Getting a child ready for transition is a team effort. We'll work with you and their future school to make the move seamless and fun. We use Transition to School Statements to communicate to schools about your child, who they are, and how they learn. These documents are carried with them from preschool to school. They help their new teacher prepare for the best possible year ahead. We often have school transition activities with local schools throughout the preschool year so your child feels comfy on their first day. 

We offer inclusive learning environments   

Inclusion is everything to us. Every child deserves to feel seen and valued for who they are. We work hard to create environments and support networks that welcome all children and their families to our centres. We take reconciliation seriously, walking with our families, children, and communities on this journey.  

Save your preschool spot for next year! 

We hope we’re a good fit for you and your family in this exciting early learning stage. If you'd like to know how we can support your child from preschool to transition, call our Family Services team or book a tour of your local Goodstart Early Learning below.