From 2026 we will be offering 3-Year-Old Preschool - 2 years are better than 1!​

We are proud partners of the South Australia Governments 3-year-old preschool program, giving children a flying start in learning and in life. ​

This initiative is part of the government’s broader investment in quality early childhood education, aiming to provide more children with access to teacher-led, play-based learning during the critical years before school. ​

What you can expect from the 3-year-old Preschool Program​

If your child is enrolled in our service and turning 3 in 2026, they may be able to access up to 15 hours per week of this new 3-year-old preschool program, depending on need and availability. ​

4-year-old Preschool Program

Our centre also offers the South Australian Government-approved Preschool Program, providing subsidy up to 15 hours per week for 40 weeks per year for 4-year-old children. Your child will benefit from our enhanced learning program in Preschool, combined with our play-based learning approach, supporting their development and school readiness.

Our Enhanced Learning Program for Preschool children focuses on:

• Numeracy & Literacy: Developing key skills for lifelong learning.
• Self-Regulation: Fostering emotional control and resilience.
• Social & Emotional Development: Supporting independence and building healthy relationships.
• Creativity & Problem-Solving: Encouraging curiosity and critical thinking.

With extended hours and a year-round program (excluding public holidays), our Preschool program is delivered by qualified Early Childhood Teachers committed to supporting your child’s individual development.

Additional Benefits Include:

• Government subsidy: Further reduces out-of-pocket Preschool fees in addition to your eligible Childcare Subsidy (CCS).
• Personalised Learning Plans: Tailored to your child’s unique needs.
• Rhythm and Resilience Program: Music and movement to improve emotional regulation.
• School Readiness: Preparing your child for a smooth transition to school.

We also engage with local schools and provide transition statements, ensuring your child feels confident and prepared for the next steps in their education journey. Stay connected with your child’s progress via our Xplor platform, which offers daily updates on their learning and development.

“Let the child be the scriptwriter, director and the actor in their own play” - Magda Gerber

Nursery Space: 6 weeks – 2 years

Learning starts from before birth, and our Educators have created a welcoming and nurturing nursery environment where each baby feels safe to explore and discover new things - through their senses, their communication and cues (body language, facial expression and sounds) and through experimentation. On any given day you can see the nursery children engaging in all types of play including sensory play, music time, story time and more. Every day provides a brand new, exciting adventure for our babies to support their development, learning and wellbeing.

Toddler Space: 2 - 3 years

Our teachers and educators encourage the children to learn through play to help enhance their sensory-motor development. This happens through carefully planned music, dance, games, role playing and reading experiences.

On any given day the Toddlers can be seen developing their numeracy by building a tower, sorting objects, pointing and identifying shapes and patterns and participating in counting songs and games.

Children in our toddler space are encouraged to participate in group play. Group play is important as it helps our toddlers develop important social skills such as, turn-taking, developing self-confidence and emotional self-regulation. Our skilled team helps children through talking, planning and role modelling.

Preschool Space: 3 – 6 years

Preschool is a unique time for learning with peers and developing skills for later learning including confidence and curiosity, important skills for starting school. Our play-based program has school readiness at its core, encouraging active engagement in learning and supporting a range of positive developmental outcomes including resilience, independence, critical thinking and creativity.

The oral language supports literacy learning and a child’s oral language ability is the best predictor for later success in learning to read and write. Hearing the sounds within a language is the first critical step for all literacy learning. Our team supports our Preschool children's literacy development by engaging in rich discussions, reading, storytelling, dramatic play and experimentation all of which introduce new vocabulary as part of everyday conversations.

Throughout the Preschool year, children use their language to share ideas, ask questions, express themselves, and connect with peers and adults in social settings.

Social-emotional skills, including the ability to self-regulate emotions, are supported through group learning experiences. Our team supports each child’s social and emotional development by labelling and talking about emotions and supporting appropriate responses as together, they engage in new and challenging situations. Our goal in the Preschool year is to prepare children and families for a smooth transition to primary school.

Our centre chef prepares and cooks nutritious meals daily, catering to the unique dietary requirements of every child. We believe that by encouraging active participation (such as growing their own fruit and vegetables, preparing, and finally cooking!) children learn to appreciate and understand the importance of healthy eating across a wide variety of food.

Our centre offers seasonal whole food-based menus – created to delight the fussiest eaters.

Hi my name is Ryan, and I am the Centre Manager here at Great Beginnings Gilles Plains. I began my career in early childhood education in 2002, and I started at Great Beginnings Gilles Plains in 2022. I have an Advanced Diploma Leadership Business Management and an Advanced Diploma Children’s Services. 

I have worked with G8 Education for 11 years as ACM World of Learning Golden Grove, CM Community Kids Ashford, and Area Manager SA. 

Early education was the first job I had following secondary school. Early education and care was a passion from a young age, studying TAFE accredited courses in Child Care and Child Studies in years 10, 11 and 12. 

I believe each child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow in safe and secure environments that promote healthy relationships and a sense of identity. Supporting children to develop healthy relationships with themselves and other people is what inspired me to work in Early Childhood Education. 

I have learnt through healthy and trusting relationships, children develop a strong sense of well-being to become confident and involved learners.

Children respond well to freedom within age-appropriate limits, therefore allowing them to make choices in their play and encouraging them to contribute and feel connected to their world.

All children are unique individual learners, and this is the primary influence of my pedagogical practice. 

I am passionate about helping children on their learning and life journey. When children establish healthy relationships and connections to educators, their peers and care environments, it supports emotional well-being and influences them to become confident learners.

There are many learning benefits of attending a dedicated early childhood education and care centre compared to learning at home. It provides children with the opportunity to develop social skills away from home environments, which helps them form healthy relationships. Early childhood education settings support children to become aware of social behaviours, listen to others, communicate their ideas, develop emotional resilience, and become independent.

My mission for Great Beginnings Gilles Plains is to recruit, lead and develop a team dedicated to implementing standards and practices that exceed the National Quality Framework.

Our approach to relationships with children and partnerships with families is based on the Circle of Security model, with a team member allocated as your Primary Carer on confirmation of enrolment. Primary carers develop responsive and respectful relationships with new families, become informed of individual routines and interests throughout the orientation process and act as a safe base throughout the transition into the education and care environment. In addition, primary carers will support children in developing relationships with other children and educators, encouraging families’ engagement with service, and partner with them in planning individual and group learning experiences.