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Last week, Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) proudly joined in the fun of National Playgroup Week, with many of our supported playgroups hosting special activities and events for families. It was a fantastic way to shine a spotlight on the powerful role playgroups have in shaping positive outcomes for children, families, and communities.
With over 60 supported playgroup programs across South Australia, CESA welcomes all families, offering a warm and inclusive space where young children (aged birth to five) and their parents or caregivers can connect, explore, and grow together. Led by passionate facilitators, our playgroups provide fun, meaningful play experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and early learning.
Nestled within our school communities, these playgroups give families access to valuable resources, facilities, and a sense of belonging. For those who later choose to continue their education at a Catholic school, these early experiences help lay the foundation for strong, lasting relationships within the school community.
Emily Bowden, lead of the SPiCE Program (Supported Playgroups in Catholic Education Program) at CESA and Early Childhood Consultant shared:
“Our SPiCE Program is truly special, with over 60 supported playgroups across the state. We focus on nurturing children’s development and work closely with Playgroup SA to provide families with additional support, including child development checks within our programs. Our playgroups are places where connections are made, relationships are built, and wonder, joy, and love are experienced.”
At CESA, we believe every family should have the opportunity to experience the many benefits of playgroups! If you have a young child, we invite you to come along and see the magic for yourself.
All CESA playgroups are affiliated with Playgroup SA and can be found on the Find-a-Playgroup website or through our School Directory. This link takes you to a list of the Catholic primary schools with a SPiCE program on site.
We are also proud partners of Raising Literacy Australia’s Words Grow Minds campaign and Paint Playgroups REaD, delivering essential early literacy programs to help children thrive.
Photographs show playgroups held during National Playgroup Week at St Aloysius College, CBD; St Pius X School, Windsor Gardens; St Joseph's School, Ottoway; Xavier College, Evanston; and Emmaus Catholic School, Woodcroft.
Compass Catholic Community in Davoren Park is set to double its capacity, announcing a $9 million expansion project to meet increasing enrolment demand. Since opening in January 2022, the fee-free learning community for young people aged 17-24 has grown rapidly.
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