ECD and Grade 1 enrolment: a guide for parents

1. Which class at which age

• ECD A: usually children aged about 3 to 4.
• ECD B: usually about 4 to 5. It's generally expected before Grade 1.
• Grade 1: the official starting age for primary school is 6.

Government policy is for primary schools to have ECD classes attached, and there are also private preschools and nursery schools. Starting ECD at the school you want for Grade 1 can make the move easier, but it doesn't always guarantee a Grade 1 place, so ask.

2. Decide what matters to your family

For young children, the journey matters a lot: a good school close to home often beats a famous one across town. Think about class sizes, how the school settles in new children, whether there's aftercare, the language children are taught in during the early grades, and the full cost per term including levies, uniform and transport.

3. Visit and ask

• How many children are in an ECD or Grade 1 class, and how many teachers and assistants?
• Are the ECD teachers trained in early childhood education?
• Where do the little ones play, and are the toilets suitable for small children?
• How do you settle a child who is anxious about starting school?
• What does a full term cost, and what else will we need to buy?
• When do applications open and close, and how are places decided?

4. Apply early, and to more than one school

Start asking in the year before your child begins, and earlier for popular city schools. Keep copies of the birth certificate, immunisation card and ECD report ready. Then read what other parents say: on SchoolReviews you can browse503 preschools and thousands of primary schools, with parent reviews where we have them, and search by town or “near me”.

Age rules and enrolment dates can change. Confirm them with the school and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education's district office.