Dubbed Kindy Care, the trial - which has started in the first of 20 government preschools - follows recommendations by the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, led by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
The Royal Commission received submissions from a wide range of stakeholders who highlighted the need for government preschools to provide care options that meet the changing needs of working families.
Many South Australian families rely on out of school hours care, or OSHC, for their school-aged children, but often OSHC services are not set up for preschool-aged children.
The general kindy hours of 9am-3pm do not offer flexibility and can make decisions more difficult for working families due to accessibility.
Kindy Care will allow children to maintain continuity, reduce transitions and engage in out of hours care appropriate to their developmental needs. The trials will continue into 2025 and will provide valuable feedback to determine a broader rollout.
The Department for Education will also continue to work closely with the Federal Government to ensure eligible families accessing Kindy Care receive the Child Care Subsidy from Term 1, 2025.
The first 10 trial sites will begin this week and will be delivered by department staff in preschools across the state. These are:
- Adams Road Children’s Centre
- Cumberland Preschool Kindergarten
- Gabmididi Manoo Children and Family Centre
- Gawler & District B-12 Children’s Centre
- Gladigau Park Kindergarten
- Loxton Preschool Centre
- Millicent North Kindergarten
- Renmark North Preschool
- Seaview Downs Preschool
- Salisbury Heights Preschool
An additional 10 preschools will also trial Kindy Care and will be delivered by third-party providers. These sites will roll out the trial later this year and early next year:
- Bridgewater Kindergarten
- Clarence Park Community Kindergarten
- Dernancourt Kindergarten
- Fairview Park Kindergarten
- Glossop Community Preschool
- Lantana Kindergarten
- Magill Kindergarten
- Ocean View College Children’s Centre
- Park Terrace Kindergarten
- Wattle Park Kindergarten
Cumberland Preschool Kindergarten Director Melissa Slater said she was "excited by the opportunity to expand our high-quality services to meet the needs of children and families".
"Kindy Care will provide continuity for children who access both preschool and Kindy Care throughout the day in an environment that’s familiar and developmentally appropriate for them while also allowing our community greater flexibility to access our services," Ms Slater said.
"We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting initiative as we know that our families will benefit greatly from the provision of Kindy Care."
