Funded Preschool in South Australia
School readiness is more than counting to ten or knowing the ABCs. It’s about building social and emotional skills, self-regulation and a love of learning. Research shows children benefit most when they attend at least 15 hours of early learning each week. At G8 Education, our preschool programs provide nurturing, purpose-built environments where your child can grow in confidence, connect with friends and see themselves as capable, curious learners.
From 2026, the South Australian Government has begun phasing in funded preschool for eligible 3-year-olds, with universal access planned by 2032, giving more children the opportunity to benefit from a quality early learning program led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers.
3-year-old Preschool: Flying Start (phasing in)
From 2026, selected G8 Education centres partnered with the South Australian Government and began introducing funded preschool programs for eligible 3-year-olds, providing 15 hours per week of high-quality early learning. By 2027, all G8 services will provide funded preschool programs for eligible 3-year-olds, providing 15 hours per week of high-quality early learning. Each preschool program will be led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher and supported by experienced educators, ensuring a rich, play-based curriculum tailored to each child’s needs.
If your child attends 3-year-old preschool at one of the selected South Australian centres in 2026 or any South Australian centre in 2027, they’ll benefit from extra initiatives designed to strengthen the program and support families, such as:
- Preschool Boost – additional funding to help services meet the needs of children and families, which may include access to allied health or specialist support.
- Ongoing Professional Learning – dedicated training and development opportunities for our teachers and educators to keep building their skills and knowledge.
- Quality Uplift – tailored assistance for services that would benefit from extra guidance to enhance teaching practices, environments, and overall program quality.
Government funding for 4-year-old Preschool
In South Australia, all children are entitled to 4-year-old preschool in the year before they start school. The government funding is provided for children to access 15 hours per week of a preschool program led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher.
In 2026, where a child is accessing our 4YO Preschool Program at a service that does not currently offer Flying Start Preschool, a target subsidy of up to $1,890 is available for children that:
- Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander,
- Refugee Humanitarian,
- or hold a commonwealth pension, health care or Veteran Affairs card.
In 2026, where a child is accessing our Flying Start 3-year-old or 4-year-old program, funding is provided to eligible universal enrolments or children in the Preschool Plus program. By 2027, this will apply to all G8 Education centres.
- A universal enrolment in the Flying Start Program applies to Aboriginal families who are not in the Preschool Plus program. These children will receive 15 hours per week, up to $1,890.
- Funding for the Flying Start Preschool Plus program is available for full days of long day care enrolment on Preschool Plus delivery days (3 or 4 days per week), up to a maximum of 11 hours per day for 52 weeks per year. This will be paid up to the CCS fee rate cap (CCS fee rate caps are adjusted at the commencement of each financial year). Eligibility is determined by the South Australian Government.
If you are eligible for a subsidy, it will be applied in arrears each term directly to your fees to offset costs.
Why choose our preschool in South Australia
- 3- and 4-year-old funded preschool options
- Mid-year enrolment aligned with SA Government schools
- Extended opening hours, 5 days per week, open all year round except public holidays
- Delivered by Early Childhood Teachers, with freshly prepared meals
- Excursions and extracurricular programs at no extra cost
- Music and Movement program in partnership with QUT
- Strong focus on school readiness and lifelong learning
Find a preschool program near you in South Australia
What your child will learn
Our preschool curriculum is play-based and intentionally designed to build the foundations for a smooth transition to school. Children explore:
- Early literacy and numeracy through play and intentional teaching
- Emotional and social development, resilience and self-regulation
- STEM and The Arts, including 2D/3D visual arts, music, dance and media
- Confidence and positive self-image through morning meetings and show-and-tell
- Community connections via local primary school relationships, excursions and community walks
- A love of learning through longer days that support richer social interactions
- We also provide individual learning plans, regular family-teacher check-ins, and transition-to-school statements.
Frequently asked questions
We offer funded preschool for 4-year-olds in the year before school. Funded 3-year-old preschool will begin rolling out in selected centres from 2026, with all G8 Education services offering funded 3-year-old preschool from 2027.
Your child can enjoy a qualified teacher-led preschool program, plus extended hours, healthy meals, extracurricular activities, and care for siblings in the same location. It also supports families who need care before or after the preschool session.
Spaces can fill quickly, so it’s best to enrol the year before your child is due to start. For 4-year-olds, this is typically the year before full-time school. For 3-year-olds, availability will depend on your centre’s participation in the government rollout from 2026. Please speak to your Centre Manager.
A qualified Early Childhood Teacher leads the preschool program, supported by experienced educators.
For 3-year-old preschool, children can only be enrolled at one service at any given time. For 4-year-old preschool, children can be enrolled across multiple services for no more than the 15 hours per week.
The completion of declaration forms are essential to confirm your funded place.
Children who are 3 years old should attend a minimum of 15 hours per week. Children who are 4 years old can attend up to 15 hours across multiple services. This helps maximise their learning and development in the two years before starting full-time school.
You can tell your child is ready for preschool in South Australia if they are turning 3 or 4 before 1 May in the year they start, and show signs of being able to play with others, follow simple instructions, and manage basic self-care like going to the toilet. If you’re unsure, talk to your Centre Manager or Early Childhood teacher.