For families on the Fleurieu Peninsula, the question of where a child’s educational journey begins is about to have a very exciting new answer.
Tatachilla Lutheran College is building a brand new Early Learning Centre, and for families on the Fleurieu who’ve long wanted to begin their Tatachilla journey earlier, the wait is nearly over. Supported by a Flying Start Infrastructure Grant from the South Australian Government, announced by SA Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer, the purpose-built centre will welcome children aged three and four into a learning environment that feels, from the very first day, unmistakably Tatachilla.
What makes this ELC particularly special is its setting. Located right on the Tatachilla campus, the centre will have a direct connection to the college’s beloved EcoSanctuary, bringing nature-based learning into the earliest years of a child’s education in the best possible way. Think muddy boots, curious minds and big questions asked in wide open spaces.
Play-based learning grounded in the national Early Years Learning Framework will guide the program, with a focus on identity, connection, wellbeing, confidence and communication; the building blocks that matter most in those first big years of learning.
AT A GLANCE
Opening: 2027
Ages: 3–4 years
Places: 60 initially, with capacity to grow
Hours: 7am–6pm, Monday to Friday
Weeks: 48 weeks per year
Principal Alison Thacker has long believed the college’s philosophy is deeply relevant in the early years, and the new ELC brings that belief to life from the very start.
“The establishment of our Early Learning Centre is a very exciting and important moment in the life of Tatachilla Lutheran College,” Mrs Thacker said. “It represents a transformational step in strengthening Tatachilla’s commitment to nurturing young people and supporting families from the earliest stages of education.”
For families who’ve been waiting for exactly this kind of option on the Fleurieu, the response from the college feels personal.
“For many years, families have expressed a desire to begin their Tatachilla journey earlier,” Mrs Thacker said. “This centre will allow us to nurture belonging, confidence and curiosity in children from their earliest years, while strengthening our partnerships with families during these formative stages of development.”
The centre’s philosophy carries through to every detail. Tatachilla has always been committed to developing the whole child: intellectually, socially, emotionally and spiritually, and the ELC will be no different.
“This Early Learning Centre will extend that philosophy into early childhood education, providing a nurturing, engaging and developmentally rich environment where children feel safe, known and inspired to learn,” Mrs Thacker said.
Practically speaking, the centre is designed to work around the realities of modern family life. Operating 48 weeks of the year with long-day care from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, it will initially open with 60 places, with capacity to grow over time. The project is also expected to create new employment opportunities in the region, both during construction and through the recruitment of early childhood educators and support staff.
Construction is expected to begin in the coming months, with the centre anticipated to open in 2027. Further details on enrolments, naming and leadership appointments will be shared as the project progresses, but if your little one is heading toward preschool age and the Fleurieu is home, this is one to get on the radar now.
Expressions of Interest are open now: tatachilla.sa.edu.au/about/early-learning-centre
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