Julia Gillard has called for universal preschool for three-year-olds to be rolled out in SA. 

A new report by a Royal Commission investigating early childhood education and care in South Australia has recommended that all three-year-olds in the state should be entitled to 600 hours of preschool education per year. 

The commission, led by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, was appointed to work out how best to deliver the South Australian Labor Party's election promise to give three-year-old children access to preschool from 2026. 

The report proposes that the 600-hour entitlement should be viewed as a minimum, with the commission considering extra hours for children most at risk of developmental delays. 

“I genuinely believe this report should be of interest to every South Australian, whether or not they have young children in their family or young children in contemplation in their families' future,” Ms Gillard said. 

“We have a moral obligation to every child to make sure every child has the best opportunity to grow and learn and thrive.”

The proposed approach will cost the state around $162 million per year and will require 32 new preschools to be built at a cost of $111.2 million.

The commission recommends that three-year-old preschool be delivered in a mix of government and non-government settings, including early learning centres and long day care. 

The state will need an additional 660 early childhood teachers, 813 educators, and 112 other staff, such as directors, to deliver the model.

The approach will build on the work currently being done by those who work in early childhood education, often informally and unpaid, to link families with other support systems. 

Premier Peter Malinauskas described the proposal as the “biggest reform to early childhood education the state had ever seen”. 

Education Minister Blair Boyer acknowledged that the six-year rollout target would be a challenge but emphasised the need to build the workforce with quality staff.

The final report is set to be released in August, and the commission is currently seeking feedback from the public on its recommendations.