Roll-out of 3-year-old preschool
Staging the preschool roll-out
Universal 3-year-old preschool is rolling out in stages from 2026, starting with partnering long day care services across the state, and government and other sessional preschools in regional areas and three metro demonstration sites.
In 2026, more than 200 long day care services and 45 government preschools are offering the Flying Start 3-year-old preschool program.
Services delivering 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, expanding the offer for families. By 2032, every child in South Australia will have access to 15 hours per week of 3-year-old preschool.
Use the Preschool Finder to search for Flying Start partner services offering 3-year-old preschool.
Roll-out schedule for government and other sessional preschools
Three metropolitan government preschools will help shape the roll-out of 3-year-old preschool across South Australia. Ocean View College Children’s Centre, Brentwood Drive Kindergarten and Riverbanks College Preschool will offer 3-year-old preschool programs in 2026, to help inform the roll-out of South Australia’s new preschool model.
The maps below outline the phased roll-out of 3-year-old preschool in government and other sessional services, starting with regional and remote communities in 2026.
The roll-out in government and other sessional preschools will start with regional and rural areas in 2026 and 2027, the greater Adelaide area in 2028, and metro Adelaide starting in 2029 and 2030.
In 2026, 3-year-old preschool programs roll out in government and other sessional services in the areas of: APY Lands, Gilbert Valley, Goyder, Jamestown, Le Hunte – Elliston, Outback, Peterborough – Mount Remarkable, Quorn – Lake Gilles, West Coast, Western, Yorke Peninsula.
In 2027, 3-year-old preschool programs roll out in government and other sessional services in the areas of Barmera, Barunga West – Wakefield, Cleve, Coorong, The Eyre Peninsula, Franklin Harbour, Grant, Kadina, Karoonda – Lameroo, Kimba, Kingston – Robe, Mannum, Millicent, Moonta, Naracoorte and surrounds, Penola, Renmark and surrounds, Tatiara, Waikerie, Wallaroo, Wattle Range.
In 2028, 3-year-old preschool programs roll out in government and other sessional services in the areas of: Adelaide Hills, Aldgate – Stirling, Barossa – Angaston, Berri, Ceduna, Clare, Coober Pedy, Gawler, Goolwa, Hahndorf – Echunga, Kangaroo Island, Lewiston – Two Wells, Light, Lobethal – Woodside, Loxton and surrounds, Lyndoch, Mallala, Mount Barker and surrounds, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge and surrounds, Nairne, Nuriootpa, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie and surrounds, Roxby Downs, Strathalbyn and surrounds, Tanunda, Uraidla – Summertown, Victor Harbor, Whyalla and Yankalilla.
In 2029, 3-year-old preschool programs roll out in government and other sessional services in the areas of Aberfoyle Park, Aldinga, Christie Downs, Christies Beach, Clarendon, Coromandel Valley, Craigmore – Blakeview, Davoren Park, Elizabeth, Flagstaff Hill, Golden Grove, Greenwith, Hackham – Onkaparinga Hills, Hackham West – Huntfield Heights, Happy Valley, Highbury – Dernancourt, Hope Valley – Modbury and Modbury Heights, Ingle Farm, Lonsdale, Mawson Lakes – Globe Derby Park, McLaren Vale, Moana, Morphett Vale, Munno Para West – Angle Vale, One Tree Hill, Para Hills, Parafield Gardens, Paralowie, Pooraka – Cavan, Redwood Park, Reynella, Salisbury, Seaford, Smithfield, St Agnes – Ridgehaven, Virginia – Waterloo Corner, Willunga, Woodcroft.
In 2030, 3-year-old preschool programs roll out in government and other sessional services in the areas of: Adelaide, Athelstone, Beaumont - Glen Osmond, Belair, Bellevue Heights, Beverley, Blackwood, Brighton, Burnside - Wattle Park, Colonel Light Gardens, Edwardstown, Enfield - Blair Athol, Flinders Park, Fulham, Glenelg, Goodwood – Millswood, Hallett Cove, Henley Beach, Hindmarsh – Brompton, Largs Bay – Semaphore, Lockleys, Marino – Seaview Downs, Mitcham, Mitchell Park, Morphettville, Nailsworth – Broadview, North Adelaide, North Haven, Northgate – Northfield, Norwood, Panorama, Paradise – Newton, Payneham – Felixstow, Plympton, Port Adelaide, Prospect, Richmond, Rostrevor – Magill, Royal Park – Hendon – Albert Park, Seaton – Grange, Sheidow Park – Trott Park, St Peters – Marden, The Parks, Toorak Gardens, Unley – Parkside, Valley View – Gilles Plains, Walkerville, Warradale, West Beach, West Lakes, Windsor Gardens, Woodville – Cheltenham.
Greater flexibility in government preschools
Kindy Care is a new wrap-around care model designed to provide greater flexibility, accessibility, and support for families, by increasing care outside of the regular preschool operating hours.
It is being trialled at 20 South Australian preschools from July 2024, across different communities and service settings. Trials will support children to maintain continuity, reduce transitions and engage in out of hours care appropriate to their developmental needs, providing valuable feedback on the potential of future programs. Trials continue in 2026.
Flying Start service finder
Find services in your area that have partnered with the South Australian Government to deliver Flying Start 3-year-old preschool in 2026.