Early Childhood Development 14 June 2011 ACTION PLAN TO 2014 Early Childhood Development 14 June 2011

Action Plan 2014 Universal access to grade R All children have access to Grade R 80% of schools offer Grade R Provision of resource packs containing teaching and learning materials for use in line with CAPS Improve the quality of ECD 37% of children have access to Pre-Grade R services 50% of registered sites offer quality programme

Current status – Schools with Grade R Schools offering Grade R Province Schools offering Grade R Grade R learners 2007 2008 2009 2010 EC 3,485 4,105 4,417 4,553 112,873 133,249 154,514 164,803 FS 481 508 538 564 22,429 23,699 23,767 27,209 GT 1,119 1,177 1,277 1,392 49,933 54,979 64,935 76,460 KZ 3,191 3,430 3,833 4,018 118,870 129,742 154,881 175,541 LP 2,136 2,233 2,275 2,354 94,677 98,963 97,570 113,432 MP 766 914 994 1,045 33,264 40,671 46,194 51,758 NC 223 255 300 319 8,584 9,575 11,508 12,387 NW 429 577 740 887 15,758 22,294 30,174 42,010 WC 650 689 786 888 30,834 30,627 37,270 43,603 SA 12,480 13,888 15,160 16,020 487,222 543,799 620,813 707,203

Schools without Grade R Province INDEPENDENT PUBLIC Total EC 15 364 379 FS 20 646 666 GT 71 318 389 KZ 24 328 352 LP 12 300 312 MP 350 365 NC 3 147 150 NW 4 414 418 WC 21 356 377 185 3223 3408

Increasing Access to grade R Improve the quality of data gathering through an audit of community based sites for accurate reporting on access to include subsidized community based classes. Include grade R in the infrastructure plans of new and upgraded schools. Establish a common monitoring system to report adequately on delivery.

Increasing Access to 0-4 years Implement a joint plan with the Department of Social Development to establish a database of subsidized centres towards improving access. Develop ECD programmes in line with National Early Learning and Development Standards (NELDS) to improve the quality of provisioning. Coordinate the training of ECD practitioners for skills development through the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP). Establish a joint monitoring system with the Department of Social Development.

Next Steps Develop and distribute revised Grade R resource packs in line with the Foundation Phase (CAPS) Improve the qualifications of grade R practitioners as per the new Higher Education Qualifications Framework in collaboration with the Teacher Education Plan and the DHET. Review the Norms and standards for funding grade R (50-70% of the grade 1 cost) to cover for alignment with the NSF for school funding Finalize the draft strategy for the improvement of the conditions of service for practitioners in line with their qualifications and the proposed scenarios for employment Develop national policy for Universal Access to Grade R.