Grow ECD’s play-based curriculum receives glowing international endorsement
Education Alliance Finland (EAF) recently awarded Grow ECD’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) online curriculum a remarkable 93% score for its Quality Pedagogy Approach.
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EAF is globally respected for its rigorous evaluation of educational technology and learning solutions. EAF reviews are based on scientifically valid, transparent methods, ensuring the products they endorse meet the highest global standards. This score ranks the Grow ECD curriculum among the top-rated early learning resources globally.
The Department of Basic Education in the Western Cape (Form 17) also recently renewed and accredited the Grow ECD curriculum and provided a trusted endorsement of its quality. While this is currently a provincial accreditation, it demonstrates that the curriculum meets the DBE’s rigorous standards.
A Play-Based Curriculum Backed by Pedagogy and Expertise
CEO of Grow ECD, Tracey Chambers says,
“It’s a well-known fact that access to quality early childhood education is the foundation of a child’s future success. Extensive research proves this, and most South Africans intuitively understand it. At Grow ECD, we are on a mission to equip early learning educators, especially in underserved communities, with the tools and resources they need to nurture young minds. One of the tools Grow ECD provides is an online curriculum, with easy-to-use, practical lesson plans."
“The international and local recognition we have recently received validates the quality and relevance of our play-based approach. Teachers can be assured that they are in safe, capable hands as they implement the Grow curriculum and lesson plans at their ECD centres nationwide”
she says.
Unlocking learners’ potential through an online curriculum and teacher’s guide
Children learn best when they are actively engaged. The Grow ECD curriculum (for 0- to 5-year-olds) was designed to align with best practice pedagogical principles and the South Africa National Curriculum Framework (NCF) to make it as locally relevant and effective as possible, says Chambers.
“Through carefully structured activities for each age group, the curriculum guides teachers step-by-step, ensuring children explore, imagine, and build critical emergent literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills – all while having fun!"
“We all agree that early educators play a vital role in shaping the future, but many teachers lack access to the mentorship, resources and support they need to provide quality education,”
she says.
“Many ECD centres in disadvantaged areas have no curriculum at all. That’s why we’ve created an online, accessible, scalable curriculum that supports and empowers teachers every step of the way. Our media-rich model makes this valuable resource more engaging, simplifies planning and provides clear, actionable steps for creating a dynamic and engaging classroom environment,”
she says.
A curriculum for every classroom
Most importantly, Grow ECD’s curriculum is designed to be inclusive and adaptable to diverse learning environments.
“Whether teachers work in well-resourced schools or under-resourced communities, our teacher’s guide provides reliable, play-based learning experiences that make every child feel seen, supported, and valued. We were able to bring their curriculum to life through the online model thanks to the support from the Lego Foundation, which generously sponsored its development,”
says Chambers.
Lisa Voortman, Head of Education at Grow ECD, explains
“Our goal was to bring the traditional curriculum book to life, making it easier for teachers from diverse backgrounds to access and implement best practices. The online curriculum includes voice notes, videos, songs, rhymes, extension activities, tips and step-by-step guides. It is like having a mentor in your ear.”
Tamsin Noi, an educator at Annies Ark Preschool in Cape Town shared her experience using the curriculum,
“The online curriculum has made a huge difference to the way I teach. It also takes me less time to plan and prepare. Things are being said and shown to me by real teachers, so I get a better understanding of what I need to do.”
Pedagogical excellence: A Finnish stamp of approval
EAF evaluated the Grow ECD online curriculum through their EdTech Impact platform. In their evaluation, EAF praised the curriculum’s interactive nature:
“The solution provides numerous ways to seamlessly integrate various topics into play. The overall concept is well-designed and thoughtfully executed.”
They also highlighted the clarity and effectiveness of Grow ECD’s educational materials:
“The educational materials are flawless. The language is straightforward yet profoundly insightful, enabling learners to grasp concepts with ease."
EAF praised Grow’s “well-designed stories and activities,” and the curriculum’s ability to engage children in thought-provoking lessons.
“These prestigious endorsements keep us inspired to continue empowering educators across South Africa. Providing them with the tools and confidence to deliver high-quality early learning experiences that unlock the full potential of every child,”
says Chambers.
