The start of the new school year marks an exciting milestone for Catholic Education South Australia, with six schools welcoming their youngest learners through the rollout of a preschool program for three-year-olds.
Supported by the South Australian Government, the program is designed to help every child build confidence, curiosity and the foundational skills needed to thrive in learning and in life.
To strengthen the quality of education across the program, a broader investment is supporting higher-qualified staff, professional development and additional support for families and children.
Three-year-old Preschool is a play-based program led by qualified early childhood teachers who work alongside educators to create nurturing, engaging environments where children feel safe to explore and grow.
Co-located with St Francis De Sales College, Alive Catholic Early Learning is one of the six sites to have welcomed children into the program on the first day of school.
Parent Jordan enrolled her child in the program.
“I think it’s a great idea to enrol your child in three-year-old preschool, as it prepares them for school and four-year-old preschool,” Jordan said.
“The program will help her develop good social skills, including sharing and learning how to navigate conflict.”
Head of ELC Operations at Alive Mt Barker, Lucy Palma expressed how critical early education is for young children.
“In these important years, our program supports three-year-olds to grow socially, emotionally and cognitively through play, discovery and connection,” she said.
“Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and grounded in Catholic identity, exploration, wonder and connection, we see each child as capable and full of potential, learning through relationships with others and their environment.”
Catholic Education South Australia executive director Neil McGoran said the program aimed to expand Catholic early learning.
“Our high-quality preschool programs build a strong foundation for learning from the very beginning, fostering curiosity, confidence, spiritual awareness, and a genuine love of learning,” Dr McGoran said.
“In our Flying Start Three-Year-Old Preschool program, children grow in confidence, build friendships and develop the skills and curiosity they need to thrive in their future learning.”
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Catholic Education South Australia expands early learning with Three-Year-Old Preschool (Catholic Education South Australia)
