Flying Start for 3-year-olds

Lighthouse Early Learning at Encounter Lutheran College has been selected as a Partner Service to deliver the South Australian Government’s new 3-year-old preschool program, commencing from January 2026.

This initiative is part of the government’s broader investment in quality early childhood education, aiming to provide more children with access to teacher-led, play-based learning during the critical years before school.

The introduction of 3-year-old preschool was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, supported by strong evidence that two years of quality early learning leads to better developmental and educational outcomes than one.

Why 3-year-old Preschool?

• Play-Based, Age-Appropriate Learning: Nurture your child’s curiosity through learning that matches their developmental stage.
• An Extra Year of Learning: Led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers, this extra year builds strong foundations for lifelong learning.
• More Support for Families: Our Flying Start partnership means better access to allied health and family supports, plus additional professional development for our educators.

What you can expect from the 3-year-old preschool program

If your child is enrolled in our service and turning 3 in 2026, they may be able to access up 15 hours per week of this new 3-year-old preschool program, depending on need and availability.

The program will be led by a qualified early childhood teacher, working alongside early childhood educators, to create a nurturing and engaging learning environment.

Supporting quality and access

While fees for the 3-year-old preschool program will continue to be set by individual providers, the South Australian Government is investing in:

• the additional cost of preschool programs being teacher-led
• additional planning time for teaching staff leading the preschool program/s
• professional learning and support for leaders, early childhood teachers and educators
• Preschool Boost funding for partnering services like ours, to access quality, evidence-informed programs and resources tailored to meet the needs of local children and families.

These supports are designed to lift the quality of all services and improve outcomes for young children in South Australia at no extra cost to families.