How Do I Start and Run a Successful Daycare in South Africa?
Starting an ECD centre requires planning, compliance, and strong daily systems. Here is a practical guide to help you get started and grow a sustainable centre.
Vacancy: Business Development Coordinator, Midrand, Gauteng (Permanent Full Time)
Closing date: 17 July 2026 Are you a driven relationship-builder with strong financial acumen and a passion for early childhood development? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Grow ECD is committed to providing 5-star early learning opportunities in every neighbourhood by equipping ECD centres with the skills, support,
Grow Giraffe: South Africa’s #1 ECD Management App
The Grow ECD App is transforming how South Africa’s preschools and ECD centres are managed. With over 4,500 centres using it, this free all-in-one platform supports centre owners and teachers with tools for learner assessments, finance tracking, and training — empowering educators to deliver quality early learning in every community.
Verified for Trust: Grow ECD Earns iZinga 5-Star Verification
Grow ECD is officially verified by iZinga, achieving a 5-star rating for excellence in governance, financial transparency, and community impact. This recognition affirms our commitment to accountability and sustainable change in South Africa’s early learning sector.
PRESS RELEASE – Bridging UK Generosity with South African Impact: Introducing Taking Care of Business UK
Taking Care of Business (TCB) has launched TCB UK, a registered charity that makes it easier for UK-based donors to invest in South Africa’s most impactful poverty-relief programmes. The first campaign will support Grow ECD, helping women entrepreneurs run sustainable preschools and improve early-learning outcomes for children.
The importance of play-based learning and cognitive development in the early years
Play is at the heart of how children learn and grow. In the early years, play-based learning builds creativity, communication, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. This article explores how parents and teachers can work together to create joyful, play-rich learning environments for children in South Africa.
Driving impactful early education through financial inclusion
South Africa’s early childhood sector faces a severe funding gap, leaving many preschools without access to capital. Grow ECD’s blended finance solution empowers ECD centres with low-cost loans, business mentoring, and training to improve quality education, strengthen financial sustainability, and uplift women entrepreneurs.
Thrive by Five: How Grow ECD is Transforming Early Childhood Development in South Africa
In response to the Thrive by Five 2024 results, Grow ECD is reshaping early childhood education in South Africa. Through innovative mobile apps, free resources, and teacher training, the organisation supports thousands of preschools in underserved communities to deliver quality learning and sustainable centre management. This is how technology and people-first solutions are driving lasting impact for children, teachers, and parents.
Tech with a Heart: How Grow ECD Built an ECD App That Serves the Sector
Grow ECD has developed a unique app suite designed to support early childhood education in South Africa. Serving thousands of preschools, the mobile-first tools help centre owners, teachers, and parents access free resources, training, and support to deliver quality early learning in underserved communities. This is technology with a heart, built to serve the people powering the ECD sector.
New STAR Assessment tool measures ECD centre strength and development areas
Grow ECD has developed an independent evaluation tool that helps us measure impact and make more data-driven decisions, while empowering centre owners with insights and action plans. The STAR Assessment tool is now also available to ECD investors and stakeholders. What does quality look like in early childhood education? At