Government preschool access

Preschool in South Australia is currently available to all 4-year-old and some 3-year-old children.

Preschool hours

All children are entitled to up to 15 hours of preschool per week at a local government preschool in the year before school (4 terms). This is sometimes called 4-year-old preschool or year-before-school preschool.

Your local preschool

Your local preschool is usually based on the where your family lives. This is sometimes referred to as the catchment area. If the local preschool is full, we will help identify an alternative government preschool.

Children can access universal 3-year-old preschool from 3 years of age if their local catchment preschool offers a 3-year-old preschool program.

Access, inclusion and support

Aboriginal children and children who are or have been in care are entitled to 15 hours of preschool per week after they turn 3, continuing until they start school.

All children with disability have the right to access and participate in education on the same basis as other children. The department has support for preschool children with disability.