Yorke Peninsula
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Preschool program at Yorke Peninsula Family Centres - Minlaton & Maitland

The same as kindy. With everything included.

Are you ready for preschool?

We are!

Your child deserves a great preschool experience. At Yorke Peninsula Family Centres, they get exactly that — a qualified early childhood teacher, a government-recognised preschool curriculum, and the kind of warm, familiar environment they already know and love.

Whether you call it kindy, preschool, or early learning, the educational outcome is the same. What’s different is everything around it.

Frequently Asked questions

Is the preschool programme at the Family Centre the same as kindy?
Yes. Both are government-recognised preschool programmes, delivered by a degree-qualified early childhood teacher using the same curriculum. The Department of Education calls both “preschool.” The learning your child receives is the same.

No. Enrolling at the Family Centre satisfies the same early learning milestone. You do not need to use a separate government kindy.

Yes. The preschool programme at our Centres is a government-recognised programme, the same as kindy. It meets all requirements for early childhood education for children aged three to five.
A degree-qualified early childhood teacher, the same qualification required to teach at a government kindy. They plan and deliver an age-appropriate educational programme for your child, just as they would in any preschool setting.
The same curriculum framework used in government kindy. There is no educational difference between what your child learns here and what they would learn at kindy.
All day, from your drop-off time to your pick-up time. Unlike kindy, which runs part-time sessions of around three hours, our programme wraps around your working day.
No. Everything happens in one place. There is no midday pick-up, no before-care to organise separately, and no after-care to arrange on top. Drop off once, pick up when you are ready.
All meals, all day. Nappies where needed. Learning, play, and care — all included. There is nothing to pack on top of what you are already paying.
The headline cost is higher, but kindy is almost entirely subsidised by state government funding. Long daycare preschool is supported by the federal Childcare Subsidy, which reduces the out-of-pocket amount for most families. When you add the real cost of before-care and after-care on top of kindy fees, the difference is often smaller than it first appears.
No. The educational outcome is the same. Your child will have a qualified teacher, a recognised curriculum, and age-appropriate learning every day. What they also get is meals, extended hours, and continuity with educators they already know.
No, and in most cases there is no good reason to. Moving a child between two environments creates disruption. Staying means your child keeps their familiar routines, their educators, and their sense of belonging — while still getting a full preschool programme.
Some families have tried splitting time between both. In practice it is unsettling for children, who then have to maintain comfort across two different environments, sometimes on the same day. Our recommendation is to choose one, and we are confident ours offers everything your child needs.

It is the same as kindy, with mid-year and end-of-year intake periods. However, before they start the preschool program, your children can attend the centre for long day care and become familiar with the space. 

Currently the program is offered to children aged 4 and 5. From 2027 we will be offering to 3 year-olds as well. 

A government-funded early learning programme for three-year-olds, being rolled out across South Australia. The Yorke Peninsula was one of the first regions selected. It runs within our long daycare environment, so your child accesses the funded programme while remaining in full-day care at a Centre they already know.
Government funding does contribute to reducing daily fees for eligible families. Current rates and subsidy details change periodically. Contact us directly for the most accurate figures for your situation.

No. Families travel from across the Peninsula, some over 45 minutes each way. For families where both parents are working, the convenience of a full-day, all-inclusive service makes the distance manageable. Contact us to talk through what works for your family.

Both Centres have access to speech pathology, occupational therapy, and social work. Child and Family Health Services (CaFHS) run new parent groups and developmental checks at our clinics.

The Circle of Security parenting programme is open to any community member, not just enrolled families.

A permanent baby weigh-and-measure station is also available to anyone in the region.

Both our Minlaton and Maitland Centres offer the full preschool programme. Middleton is a purpose-built facility serving families across the Southern Yorke Peninsula. Maitland is a warm, well-established Centre serving families from Maitland, Yorketown, Warooka, and surrounding areas.

You can call us on 08 7524 0341, or send a message via the contact page.
You are welcome at either Centre, and you do not need to have made any decisions before you visit.

What is the Preschool Program?

The preschool program at our Middleton and Maitland Centres is a government-recognised early childhood education program for children aged three to five. It is delivered by a degree-qualified early childhood teacher using the same curriculum as government kindy — because it is the same thing.

The Department of Education refers to both as preschool. The learning your child receives at our Centre meets the same standard. The difference is that ours runs all day, includes all meals, and fits around your family’s working life.

Do I Have to Send My Child to Kindy?

No. Families on the Yorke Peninsula do not have to choose between kindy and quality early learning. Enrolling your child in the preschool program at our Family Centre satisfies the same educational milestone, with the same qualified teacher, the same curriculum, and the same outcomes.
Many families are surprised to learn this. We think you should know it before you make a decision.

Why Families on the Yorke Peninsula Choose Us

Full day. Every day.

Kindy runs part-time sessions — usually three hours in the morning or afternoon. Our preschool programme runs from the time you drop off to the time you pick up, with no midday pick-up, no before-care to organise, and no after-care to arrange.

Everything included.
Meals, nappies where needed, and a full day of learning and play — all covered. There is nothing to pack and nothing to arrange on top of what you are already paying.

Enrol any time.
Government kindy takes children at mid-year and end-of-year intakes. We enrol children whenever they are ready.

Already familiar.
Children who have been with us since they were babies already know their educators, their room, and their routines. The preschool years do not have to mean a big disruption. For many families, staying means a smoother transition, not a harder one.

Specialist support on site.
Speech pathology, occupational therapy, social work, and Child and Family Health Services (CaFHS) are all accessible through our Centres. Your child’s preschool years are also a time when families sometimes need a little extra support. We have that here too.

Ready to find out more?

If you are weighing up your preschool options on the Yorke Peninsula, we would love to answer your questions. There is no obligation, and no pressure — just an honest conversation about what we offer and whether it suits your family.
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