SASSLA and SAPPA have jointly prepared a School-Based Preschool Report 2026 to better understand the current realities of school-based preschools and identify policy opportunities to support their continued development.
Both Associations directly engaged with principals and early years leaders across metropolitan, regional, and rural contexts to gain a detailed understanding of both the strengths and pressures the school-based preschool model now faces.
School-based preschools are a distinctive and important part of South Australia’s public education system. They provide families with a seamless pathway from early learning into primary schooling and deliver clear benefits for children, communities, and the broader education system.
It is increasingly evident that, while the model remains highly effective, it operates within a system that has not kept pace with the scale of change in early-years policy, regulation, and expectations. Over time, the regulatory environment, accountability settings, and operational demands placed on school-based preschools have expanded significantly. However, the underlying funding models, leadership structures, and policy frameworks have remained largely unchanged.
Read the report here.