Grow ECD is providing free, practical online resources to help early childhood development (ECD) centres strengthen education quality as the 2026 school year gets underway.
The intervention comes as more than 58% of South African children aged four to five are not developmentally on track, with the greatest learning gaps concentrated in lower-income communities. With over 40,000 ECD centres operating nationwide, the ability of centres to access tools, plan effectively and deliver structured learning is a decisive factor in improving early outcomes.
Grow ECD, a South African non-profit focused on strengthening ECD sustainability and quality, offers more than 450 free downloads through its online Resource Centre. These include compliance documents, operational templates, classroom tools, songs, rhymes and parent communication resources, all designed for immediate use in South African preschools. According to Grow ECD marketing manager Helene Brand, the aim is to remove practical barriers that prevent centres from focusing on teaching and learning. She notes that the 2026 ECD calendar, which includes learning themes, term dates, public holidays and special observance days, remains one of the most accessed tools.
The availability of free resources addresses a persistent gap in the sector. ECD centres are expected to meet increasing quality and compliance standards, often without adequate administrative support or access to training. Digital tools are increasingly essential, yet many centres operate with limited capacity.
At a national level, additional free support is available through the Department of Basic Education’s P.L.A.Y. course, a self-paced online programme focused on play-based learning. The course targets ECD practitioners already working in classrooms and provides practical strategies aligned with DBE requirements. It is formally recognised as part of the professionalisation of the ECD sector.
Sector-wide knowledge and research are also accessible through the ECD Information Hub, developed by the DBE in partnership with UNICEF and the LEGO Foundation. The platform serves as a central repository for resources aimed at improving ECD quality and access across the country.
Educators seeking peer support and professional development can access the Ubuntu Hub, an online community connecting teachers and school leaders across Africa with education organisations and academic networks.
Beyond resources, Grow ECD has identified three immediate priorities for centres already operating in 2026. The first is curriculum quality. Centres are encouraged to use structured, practical and play-based curricula aligned with national standards. Grow ECD provides a free, DBE-approved online curriculum for children from birth to five years, accessible via the Giraffe App.
The second priority is administration and sustainability. Weak financial management and poor record-keeping continue to undermine ECD centres. Grow ECD’s free Giraffe App is positioned as a tool to manage administration, finances, learner assessments, reporting and teacher development in one system.
The third priority is planning discipline. Without structured annual planning, learning delivery becomes inconsistent. Free planning tools, including the 2026 ECD calendar, are intended to help centres align learning activities with national term dates and learning themes.
The challenge facing the ECD sector is no longer the absence of support, but whether available tools are being used at scale to improve classroom practice. Early learning outcomes will not shift through policy alone. They depend on whether centres are equipped to deliver quality education every day.
As the school year progresses, the effectiveness of free digital support may prove to be one of the most practical levers for strengthening the foundation of South Africa’s education system.
