Here is a list of trusted digital resources from the South African ECD sector. This is not a comprehensive list, but will help get you started!
Click any blue link to visit the website.
Government & Regulatory Portals
These portals help with compliance, registration, and staying aligned with official requirements after ECD moved to the DBE.
- DBE – Early Childhood Development: This is the main site for national ECD policy and the Bana Pele Registration Drive. You can also find Vangasali campaign materials and registration toolkits here.
- DBE Portal (Western Cape): This province-specific portal is known as the best-resourced government site in South Africa. It has a large library of CAPS-aligned digital resources, lesson plans, and ‘Teacher Sidekick’ tools that are helpful across the country.
- Gov.za Services – ECD Certificate: Visit this official site for details on legal requirements for ‘Partial Care’ registration and health and safety standards.
Strategy, Research & Advocacy
Check out these organisations for strategic insights and leading research in the sector.
- Ilifa Labantwana: This leading learning organisation offers key resources for evidence-based research, policy briefs, and guides like the Bhalisa Inkulisa toolkit for registration.
- Smartstart: As the largest social franchise for ECD in South Africa, their site shows how to deliver community-based services at scale and explains the ‘ecosystem enabler’ approach.
- Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD): This group publishes the ‘Early Years’ bulletin and shares resources on NPO management, fundraising, and advocacy.
Practical Tools & Business Support
Find practical tips for managing your centre and keeping daily operations running smoothly.
- Grow ECD: This is a one-stop shop for ECD centre owners. They provide a free mobile app for centre management, an online curriculum, and ‘Business Accelerator’ training to help centres become financially sustainable.
- TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education): This organisation provides practitioner training and resources, including accredited modules, toy library guides, and materials designed for rural areas.
- Nal’ibali: This national reading-for-enjoyment campaign offers multilingual stories for language learning, guides for running reading clubs, and ‘Learning Bytes’ to boost literacy skills. Educators can also find professional development resources here.
- South African Journal of Childhood Education (SAJCE): This open-access, peer-reviewed journal highlights research specific to South Africa, such as mother-tongue instruction and rural ECD challenges.
- ETDP SETA: This official body oversees accredited ECD qualifications and shares information on learnerships and professional development for the workforce.
Essential News & Network Hubs
- SAYouth.mobi: This zero-rated platform helps recruit and match young practitioners with learnerships and government-funded placements.
- ECDAN (Early Childhood Development Action Network): Although global, this group works closely with South Africa. Their ‘Knowledge Gateway’ is a great place to find infographics and videos that make complex policy easy to understand.
