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.
Flying Start Information Session
- Date: Wednesday 13 August
- Time: 5:00–6:00pm
- Location: Lighthouse Early Learning Centre, Encounter Lutheran College
Join us for an information session with Demelza Mawson, Regional Manager from the Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD). This session is open to our Lighthouse families and the wider community.
This is a wonderful opportunity to:
- Discover how three-year-old preschool can benefit your child
- Explore our purpose-built Early Learning Centre
- Meet our passionate team and other local families
Ready to Learn More?
👉 New to Encounter? Register for this session or book a spot on one of our monthly Director’s Tours to see if Lighthouse Early Learning is the right fit for your family.
👉 Existing Lighthouse families and families enrolled for 2026 are warmly encouraged to register to attend.
Ahead of your child’s start, we’ll provide any necessary paperwork to help you access Flying Start funding through Lighthouse Early Learning.
If your child attends multiple participating services, you’ll be able to nominate which service receives the Flying Start funding support.
Encounter Lutheran College acknowledges the Ramindjeri people of the Ngarrindjeri Country as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and learn. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Contact Encounter Lutheran College