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Quality early learning is the key to a brighter future for a whole generation
Research has proven again and again that children who attend quality ECD programmes are more likely to succeed in school and less likely to repeat grades or drop out. Also, children who have quality early learning experiences are more resilient and gain lifelong benefits such as improved earning potential, more stable families and less reliance on government grants.
When we help women run sustainable preschools, families thrive, communities grow, youth have access to dignified jobs and the economy benefits.
With Grow ECD’s holistic support, ECD centres improve across four key impact areas:
Education quality and learning outcomes
Business viability and sustainability
Centre compliance and registration
Professionalisation through technology adoption
Education quality and learning outcomes
Grow ECD’s impact on learning outcomes for Children
- 83% of the 4–5 year olds assessed and observed by teachers at our Small Business Programme centres in 2025 are developmentally on track versus the national average of 35% (sample size = 4,300).
- 70% of 4–5-year-old learners were assessed as developmentally on track using the ELOM 4&5 Years Assessment Tool (2024).
- 76% of learners demonstrated age-appropriate emotional functioning according to the ELOM Social-Emotional Functioning Rating Scale (2024).
- 93% curriculum pedagogical quality rating from Education Alliance Finland.
How Grow ECD creates change and supports a thriving ECD sector
This model delivers outcomes for children, women, and communities.
Grow ECD supports women to run sustainable, high-quality ECD businesses by combining:
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Access to technology and tools to support professionalisation
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In-person business and education trainingIn-person business and education training
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In-person mentorship and coaching for teachers and centre owners
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NCF aligned play-based curriculum
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High-quality education resources and classroom kits
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Access to low-cost finance and blended finance
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Registration support
Business viability and sustainability
Grow ECD’s Impact on Women Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Development
- Currently, Grow ECD has 232 ECD centres in its Small Business Programme network across four provinces: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
- These centres form part of a 3-year training and development programme and remain part of the network after graduation, where they receive ongoing mentorship, a community of practice and further development opportunities.
- Grow ECD has the capacity to support up to 300 active ECD centres and actively recruits new centres monthly.
Centre compliance and registration
Grow ECD’s impact on ECD compliance
- 56% improvement in Governance and Legal compliance scored by our centres after 3 years on the programme (STAR Assessment).
- 91% average rating for centres in the Learning Programme dimension on graduation from the Small Business Programme (STAR Assessment).
- 50% of Grow ECD Centres are conditionally or fully registered.
Professionalisation through technology adoption
Grow ECD’s Technology and Tools for Scale and Professionalisation
Explore more of our Impact
Download useful reports here: