Pre-School

Our Philosophy

Our approach to children and learning

Our approach to children and learning: The Heights Preschool believes that play is fundamental to young children's development and learning, and that children are competent and capable learners who construct their own knowledge through exploration and discovery. The preschool is committed to providing a high-quality program that is responsive to the needs of each individual child and aims to be inclusive to all..


Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

The Heights Preschool recognises that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children, and believes that a strong partnership between parents and educators is essential for promoting children's development and learning. The preschool values and encourages parent involvement in every aspect of the program, and strives to maintain open lines of communication with parents through various channels.

Reflective practice and ongoing learning

The Heights Preschool believe in the importance of critical reflection for educators, and encourages them to regularly assess and improve their teaching practice through self-reflection, feedback from colleagues, and ongoing professional development opportunities. The preschool values collaboration and ongoing learning as a means to continuously improve outcomes for children.

  • Exceeding the National Quality Standards

  • A place for children and their families to experience a tradition of exceptional care, support and learning

  • A place to joyfully play, discover, create and learn


Sustainable practices and environmental awareness

The Heights Preschool is committed to promoting sustainable practices, reducing their impact on the environment, and educating children to be environmentally aware and take action to reduce their own footprint. The preschool aims to work collaboratively with families and the community to promote waste wise initiatives, energy efficiency, water conservation, and biodiversity.


Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 found here

Education and Care Services National Regulations found here

About Us

The Heights Preschool is co-located with The Heights School (P-12). The school has an Ignite program starting in Year 7, which attracts many families to the preschool. The Preschool provides high quality and developmentally responsive learning program for preschool children aged 3-5 year old children in a culturally diverse community.

Our focus on increasing children’s vocabulary stems from children’s level of understanding of English. Research demonstrates vocabulary development can be improved through explicit teaching techniques such as providing definitions for new words. It also shows that spoken vocabularies have been associated with higher achievement in reading and maths in schooling, and better ability to regulate behaviour. Vocabulary is also linked to success in reading comprehension and related word recognition skills. The play based learning program provides opportunities for intentional teaching, self-directed discovery and collaboratively learning and provides children to develop agency and wellbeing.

The Heights Preschool has extensive outdoor learning areas that include, swings, sandpit, digging patch, landscaped gardens, large wooden climbing frame, grassed area and an expansive large outdoor verandah. The indoor area comprises of large open areas for indoor play and two group rooms, catering for quiet and productive play times. The preschool has access to the school facilities which includes the library, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, Science block, gym, fixed playgrounds, ovals, library and play space outside the reception classrooms.

The preschool is strongly committed to making a positive difference to all children including changing their developmental, learning and wellbeing outcomes. We value and foster strong working relationships with our families and work collaboratively to build positive partnerships with our wider school community.

Starting Preschool

To register your child for preschool, first determine their starting age based on their birthdate (please visit this link.)
Government preschool is available for children for one year, or four terms, before they start school.

Starting in 2023, there will be a mid-year intake for preschool. Children who turn 4 years old before May 1st are eligible to start preschool at the beginning of the year. Children who turn 4 years old between May 1st and October 31st can start preschool through the mid-year intake at the beginning of Term 3. Children who turn 4 years old after October 31st can start preschool at the beginning of the following year.

If you are uncertain about the best time for your child to begin preschool, please speak with The Heights Preschool Coordinator for guidance.

To register your interest, please do so here here.

Session Times


Preschool operates Tuesday to Friday for children to attend their 2 full days (either Tuesday and Wednesday, or Thursday and Friday). There is an additional session on Monday's that operates in Term 2 for the Tuesday/Wednesday group and in Term 3 for the Thursday/Friday group.

Tuesday – Friday
8:30am – 3:15pm

Monday – Term 2 (Tues/Wed group only) Term 3 (Thurs/Fri group only)
8:30am – 2.30pm

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Parenting Resources

Several early childhood parenting resources are available to help your child learn and grow right from the start.

Raising Literacy Australia:
Supports families to read, talk, sing and play with their children from birth, with access to book recommendations, reading packs and resources.
Mum's Grapevine:
Offers advice for fathers to encourage reading together with their child.
Parenting SA:
Free parenting factsheets, videos and upcoming seminars on many parenting topics.
Positive Parenting Program:
Free seminars, workshops and one-on-one sessions for parents of children aged 3 to 12 years
Learning with your Child (GreatStart):
Gives parents everyday learning ideas and activities to help build their child’s maths and language skills.
Raising Children Network:
Provides up-to-date, evidence-based, scientifically validated information about raising children and caring for yourself as a parent or carer.