Fewer than half: what South Africa’s early learning data tells us.

• 43%of children in early learning programmes on track (Thrive by Five Index 2021)
• 42%of enrolled four-year-olds on track (Thrive by Five Index 2024)
• 18%of four-year-olds not enrolled anywhere on track (2024)

The Thrive by Five Index is South Africa’s national survey of how young children are developing. Trained assessors measure thousands of children using the Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM), a South African tool covering early literacy and language, numeracy, motor skills, social-emotional development and physical growth.

What the surveys found

In 2021, only 43% of children in early learning programmes were on track for their age. The 2024 Index, covering 5,001 children in 1,388 programmes across all nine provinces, found much the same: 42% of enrolled children were on track, and 30% were falling far behind.

For children not enrolled in any programme, the picture was far worse. Only 18% were on track, and 55% were falling far behind.

What it means for Flow

Two things stand out. Being in an early learning programme matters a great deal, and the quality of that programme matters too. That is why Flow focuses on safe, permanent centres like Sunbeam, and on helping existing centres become registered, well-run and able to show what children are learning.

It is also why we intend to measure our own work with the same ELOM instrument, so our results can be compared with the national picture rather than with our own hopes.