For thousands of South Australian children, this week marked a special step in their education journey.
Around 4400 children started reception on Monday at more than 420 public schools as more parents choose to take advantage of the mid-year intake program, which is now in its third year. So far, the scheme has supported more than 13,000 students start reception in Term 3.
The State Government is backing this with upgrades to schools and building capacity – including a $12 million investment at Kilkenny Primary School to deliver a new gymnasium and additional infrastructure upgrades as part of a $210 million state budget measure.
The mid-year intake allows children born between 1 May and 31 October to start school in the year they turn five.
Students starting school this week will either form a new reception class or join an existing reception class.
Children who start school at the beginning of the year will complete four terms of reception, while children who start mid-year in Term 3 will complete six terms.
Preschool mid-year intake also started this week, with 385 government preschools welcoming new groups of children. The Government implemented this measure in 2023 ahead of the universal rollout of three-year-old preschool starting this year.
Kilkenny Primary School Principal Alex Narcys said that the mid-year intake had become an exciting milestone for the school community.
"It's wonderful to welcome a new group of students and families as they begin their learning journey, and having modern, high-quality learning spaces ready for them makes a real difference," Mr Narcys said.
"The investment in our facilities means we can continue providing the best possible learning environment as our school grows."
Families who have not yet registered for reception in 2027 are encouraged to do so online at education.sa.gov.au/primary-school-enrolment (external site) (external site).
