Preschool and CCS in South Australia (2026 Guide)
What Does Preschool Year Actually Cost SA Families?
South Australia provides universal access to 15 hours per week of preschool through government preschools — the year before school (Reception). Government preschool sessions are very low cost or free. But CCS does not apply to government preschool, and preschool operates school terms only.
For families who work, preschool year often brings unexpected costs: you still need before/after preschool care, full-day care on non-preschool days, and school holiday care — all on top of any preschool contributions. Many families find the transition to preschool costs more, not less, than full-time long day care.
Is Preschool Free in South Australia?
Government preschools in SA provide access to 15 hours per week of preschool education in the year before Reception, funded through the state education system.
Official source: SA Government – Preschool
Government preschool:
- Operates during school terms (approximately 40 weeks/year)
- Runs session hours — not full-day care
- May charge fees depending on the site and family circumstances, though fees are typically very low (often $50–$200 per term)
South Australia does not operate a branded "Free Kindy" scheme. Universal preschool access is built into the state education system.
The Critical Issue: CCS Does Not Apply to Government Preschool
This is the most important thing to understand about SA preschool year.
CCS only applies to Commonwealth-approved child care services. Government preschools are part of the state education system — they are not approved child care services. This means:
- No CCS is paid for government preschool sessions
- Additional care needed outside those sessions (before/after preschool, holidays) must be paid for separately — CCS applies to those services if they are CCS-approved
Compare this to long day care delivering a preschool program:
- Long day care is a Commonwealth-approved child care service
- CCS applies under normal rules
- Year-round care is available (including school holidays)
CCS source: Services Australia – Child Care Subsidy
Does Preschool Reduce CCS Hours?
No.
Your CCS hours entitlement is based on the activity test — not on preschool attendance. From January 2026, the 3-Day Guarantee ensures a minimum of 72 subsidised hours per fortnight for most families.
If you move from LDC to government preschool, your CCS entitlement per fortnight stays the same — you simply use fewer CCS-subsidised hours because government preschool sessions are not billed through CCS.
Government Preschool vs Long Day Care: Side-by-Side
| Government Preschool | LDC Delivering Preschool | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical weekly hours | 15 hrs/week | 30–50 hrs/week |
| Session type | Term-time, school hours | Full-day, year-round |
| CCS applies? | No | Yes |
| Session cost | Very low ($0–$50/week) | $400–$600+/week before CCS |
| After-CCS cost | N/A | Typically $80–$200/week |
| Holiday care needed? | Yes (full days) | No — same centre |
| Suitable for | Families needing ≤15 hrs/week | Families needing full-day care |
Worked Example: What an Adelaide Family Pays
The following uses realistic but illustrative figures for Adelaide families.
Family details:
- Combined ATI: $115,000 → CCS rate: approximately 79%
- Child currently attending 4 days/week at an Adelaide long day care
- Centre daily fee: $115 per day (10 hours) = $11.50/hr (below the CBDC hourly cap of $14.63)
Current position (LDC, 4 days/week):
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly LDC fee | $115 × 4 days | $460 |
| CCS per day | $11.50 × 79% × 10 hrs | $90.85 |
| Weekly CCS | $90.85 × 4 | $363.40 |
| Weekly LDC gap | $460 − $363.40 | $96.60 |
If switching to government preschool + LDC for remaining care:
Scenario: Government preschool 4 mornings (15 hrs/week), LDC 2 full days for work.
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Government preschool | ~$20/week (low SA fees) | $20 |
| LDC (2 days) | $115 × 2 | $230 |
| CCS on LDC days | $90.85 × 2 | $181.70 |
| LDC gap | $230 − $181.70 | $48.30 |
| Weekly cost — school term | $20 + $48.30 | $68.30 |
Looks cheaper! But during school holidays (13 weeks), you need full LDC again:
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LDC (4 days, holiday week) | $115 × 4 | $460 |
| CCS | $90.85 × 4 | $363.40 |
| Weekly holiday cost | $460 − $363.40 | $96.60 |
Annualised comparison:
- LDC year-round: $96.60 × 52 weeks = $5,023/year
- Preschool + LDC: ($68.30 × 40 school weeks) + ($96.60 × 12 holiday weeks) = $3,911/year
In this example, the family saves approximately $1,100/year by switching to government preschool + part-time LDC — less than the per-session fees suggest, because holiday weeks require full LDC. If the family needs more LDC days in school terms (e.g., 3 days instead of 2), the saving shrinks further.
This shows why it's essential to model the full year, not just the term-time week.
Preschool Eligibility in SA
Children are generally eligible for government preschool in SA in the year before Reception. This is typically the year a child turns 4 or 5 (depending on term dates and school start dates). Confirm eligibility with your specific preschool site.
Turning 6 During Preschool Year
If your child turns 6 during the year:
- Their CCS age band may change in LDC
- The higher second-child CCS rate may be affected if a younger sibling is in simultaneous care
- CCS paid earlier in the financial year is not retroactively adjusted
More detail: Services Australia – Second and subsequent children
Questions to Ask Before Preschool Year
- What are the government preschool session hours and days? (Morning only? Specific days? Which school terms?)
- What before/after preschool care is available? (Is it CCS-approved? What does it cost?)
- What are the school holiday care costs? (LDC, holiday programs — are they CCS-approved?)
- Does your LDC deliver an approved preschool program? (Some SA LDCs deliver a funded preschool program within their sessions)
- Will reducing LDC days affect your activity test? (Dropping below 16 hours/fortnight of recognised activity may affect your hours entitlement)
Before Changing Care Arrangements
Before switching from LDC to government preschool, calculate:
- Total weekly hours needed (preschool + before/after care + extra LDC days)
- Weekly cost during school terms (preschool + any LDC)
- Weekly cost during school holidays (full LDC)
- Annual total
- CCS approval status of each service used
A smaller weekly saving in school terms is often diluted significantly by school holiday costs.
Summary
In South Australia in 2026:
- Children can access 15 hours/week of government preschool in the year before Reception
- Government preschool operates school terms, school hours
- CCS does not apply to government preschool sessions
- LDC delivering a preschool program: CCS applies under normal Commonwealth rules
- Working families typically need before/after preschool care and holiday care — these costs offset much of the preschool saving
- The full-year cost comparison is usually much closer than the per-session rates suggest
Model term time and school holidays together before deciding between government preschool and LDC.