About Verified ( ) Centres
What Is a Verified Centre?
Verified Centres are vetted by Care for Kids. As part of this process, Verified Centres undergo a financial assessment to ensure their reliability and credibility. We maintain an ongoing relationship with Verified Centres and provide them with support so they can offer you fresh and accurate information.
Learn more about our T&Cs.
Why Choose a Verified Centre?
- Trust & Peace of Mind - listing data for Verified Centres is regularly checked and updated
- Transparency – Verified Centres adhere to our evaluation process so you can make informed decisions
- Simpler Search – Spot trusted providers at a glance and save time finding quality childcare















Goodstart Early Learning Semaphore South Centre overview
Goodstart Early Learning Semaphore South Centre highlights
- Play-based, individualised learning within a nurturing, engaging environment.
- Strong community connections with local businesses and families.
- Outdoor spaces that inspire sustainability, exploration, and active play.
Goodstart Early Learning Semaphore South, located near Adelaide’s northern beaches, provides a nurturing environment where children can explore, make friends, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Our professional educators are passionate about supporting each child’s unique learning journey, offering quality programs tailored to individual needs.
Aligned with the Early Learning Framework, our play-based curriculum is designed to foster creativity, sensory exploration, and school readiness from Nursery to Preschool. Our outdoor spaces feature sandpits and shaded areas that encourage children to engage with the environment, promoting sustainability and physical activity.
With a strong connection to the local community, Goodstart Semaphore South offers enriching learning experiences through “real-life” visits and community partnerships, helping children gain practical knowledge and skills. Many of our educators are locals, creating a warm, familiar atmosphere that strengthens bonds with families across Port Adelaide and Semaphore.
Fees & Vacancies
Goodstart Early Learning Semaphore South Service features
See more (9)Goodstart Early Learning Semaphore South service include:
Get to know us
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Kindergarten/Preschool Programs
Our high-quality, play based preschool curriculum is delivered by Bachelor qualified Early Childhood Teachers. Our teachers tailor their programs to ensure all children develop the confidence and social and emotional skills needed for a smooth transition to school. Through play, our Early Childhood Teachers facilitate children’s learning of important language, literacy, numeracy and creative skills.
Benefits of Goodstart Kindergarten/Preschool programs:
- Our programs are planned and led by qualified and experienced Early Childhood Teachers, in accordance with the Early Years Learning Framework
- Our programs have the tick of approval, meaning they meet (and exceed) Government guidelines around learning in the year before school
- Strong connections with local schools support our extensive transition to school programs
- We offer greater flexibility and convenience for busy families with longer opening hours, five days a week, 52 weeks of the year.
- We offer 9-hour, 10-hour and all-day sessions.
- Nutritious meals are provided throughout the day, so there’s no need to pack lunch boxes.
Curriculum and programs
Curriculum and programs
The educators at Goodstart Early Learning follow an evidence-based curriculum that aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework. Informed by world-leading research, practices and techniques, the curriculum encourages the children’s natural curiosity and engages them in their learning journey.
As the children move through the different rooms in the centre, the curriculum evolves with them. The educators set goals for the children and celebrate as they reach their milestones. At every stage, the educators are tailoring the curriculum and goals to each child’s individual needs.
The curriculum involves different types of learning experiences and styles. From child-led learning to sessions guided by educators, the children participate in small and large group sessions as well as individual play. Most importantly, the children learn through play, developing social skills, confidence and independence in addition to more formal academic skills.
Play is the order of the day of Goodstart Early Learning and the programs at the centre are grounded in a play-based approach. The educators embed teaching and learning into play experiences, helping the children to make sense of the world around them. This is how the children learn about how things work and develop important foundational relationships and skills.
The primarily child-directed, play-based curriculum ensures that the children are engaged in their learning. They are encouraged to take the lead, developing their negotiation, risk taking, problem solving and social skills. The educators observe the children and help to challenge them by extending their learning and interests.
The educators recognise that every child is unique and that they bring their own needs, interests and strengths with them each day. The program is designed to be flexible to cater to these differing needs, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive at Goodstart.
Parent communication and involvement
Parent communication and involvement
Goodstart Early Learning uses the StoryPark app to connect with parents throughout the day. The educators upload photos and stories to the secure app, which parents can access anytime and anywhere to track their child’s progress.
The approach at the centre is very much based around partnership between families and educators. The educators work with the parents and carers to build strong relationships. They develop trust so the children can feel safe and secure while at the centre. Parents are also encouraged to share their insights and feedback with educators to add depth to the relationship.
The educators observe the children every day and tailor the program around their observations. They share these with parents, so they can feel connected to their child’s progress and also provide feedback that will further enhance their child’s learning experience.
Meet the team
Meet the team
Goodstart Early Learning employs qualified and skilled educators who are dedicated to making a difference to the children in their care. The centre employs people who are empathetic and compassionate, with a nurturing disposition and a passion for care. Working collaboratively as a team, the educators display qualities such as positivity, kindness and, most importantly, a desire to help every child thrive.
The educators hold relevant qualifications, including the Kindergarten and Preschool Program teachers who are university qualified. The educators are lifelong learners, participating in regular and ongoing professional development to enhance their skills. They are encouraged to upskill, learning about the latest research and thinking in the sector. They can then bring this knowledge back to the centre to share with their colleagues for the benefit of the children.
Senka Jelic
My name is Senka Jelic, and I am the Centre Director for the community at Goodstart Semaphore South.
As educators and advocates for early childhood education, I firmly believe that we are privileged and challenged with the most important job in society - to provide high-quality education that enables every child to see themselves as confident and capable learners.
As a Leader with extensive experience in the profession, I believe it is my role to inspire, encourage and empower every educator to believe in their own potential, which positively impacts the quality of early childhood education provided for our young children and families. Fundamental to my philosophy and pedagogy is that strong and meaningful relationships are the key to creating environments where all members of the community feel a strong sense of belonging and thrive. I look forward to working in partnership with families as you are your child’s first educator and know them best.
On a personal note, outside of work, I enjoy reading, travelling and spending time with my 8-year-old daughter.
I am very excited to be part of your team and look forward to working and reflecting together to ensure Goodstart Semaphore South continues to be a place that enables all children, families and educators to flourish.
Call us on 8449 1488, or click the 'Book a tour' button above to arrange a personalised tour. If you’d like a tour outside of the offered tour times please contact me so that we can organise this for you.

Interested in this centre but want to keep looking?
Share and add to your favourites for laterLocation
59-65 Bower RoadSemaphore South, SA, 5019

Centre Reviews
We loved being a part of the Semaphore South community, where our daughter had thoughtful, caring educators and made wonderful friends :) We loved being a part of the Semaphore South community, where our daughter had thoughtful, caring educators and made wonderful friends :)
I am so glad i decided to bring my daughter to this daycare she has learnt so much from the teachers and has... I am so glad i decided to bring my daughter to this daycare she has learnt so much from the teachers and has made so many friends i love it i am sad that kindergarten will be her last year here i thank the staff so so much for everything they have done for my beautiful daughter Read more
Thanks so much for the lovely review Danielle! We will miss having you as part of the family at Goodstart Semaphore South!
Both my boys have been going here since they were very young and we couldn't be happier 😁 Both my boys have been going here since they were very young and we couldn't be happier 😁
Thanks for the lovely feedback Aimee! We've loved having you part of the family at Goodstart Semaphore South :-)