A growing number of preschools and creches are turning to technology to strengthen operations, and one app is leading the charge. Grow Giraffe, part of the Grow ECD suite, has become the most widely used preschool management tool in South Africa, now serving more than 4,900 early childhood development (ECD) centres.
With nearly 60% of ECD centres run informally, many without proper record-keeping or reporting systems, Grow Giraffe offers a simple way to manage finances, staff, compliance, and learner assessments. In June 2025 alone, over 3,500 centres actively used the app’s tools to streamline administration.
“Our app isn’t just about technology. It’s about removing barriers for the people educating the next generation,” says Tracey Chambers, CEO of Grow ECD.
The app is designed for South African realities, working in low-data conditions while offering free access to an NCF-aligned play-based curriculum, learner tracking, and online teacher training. To date, more than 4,700 centre owners and 4,500 teachers have completed training through the platform, while over 54,000 resources have been downloaded.
Centre owners say the tool is transforming their work. “The Grow ECD Giraffe App makes managing my centre easy and accessible. It helps me track finances, staff, and learner development – and the free training makes a huge difference,” says Bilkish Vawda, owner of Pretty Palms Educare in KwaZulu-Natal.
Launched in 2019, Grow Giraffe was developed with direct input from principals, teachers, and parents. It currently holds a 4.5-star rating and enjoys high satisfaction among users, with 84% reporting a strong positive impact on their centres.
Chambers says the platform’s growth shows the potential of purpose-driven innovation: “Our success with Grow Giraffe proves that technology can strengthen the ECD sector and deliver real results for real people.”
