Early childhood development centres in SA continue to struggle with registration and access to subsidies“SmartStart was set up as a [means of] trying to look for… a quality solution that’s relatively quick and affordable to set up and deliver across the country, so that we can bring in as many children as fast as possible into early learning,” said Jowell.
Those who complete the training receive support in setting up their own ECD centres. SmartStart field workers, known as “coaches”, check on the basic health and safety standards at each site. “SmartStart gives you free five-day training, where you will receive some educational toys and a stipend of R1,000 to support your business, and a club coach for moral support,” said Moletsi.
Schoeman’s centre now provides early learning support to 28 children between six months and six years old. With limited sector-wide funding to enable access to early learning, the ECD sector is often market-led, according to Samantha Maasdorp, network strategist at SmartStart. Programmes are therefore established in areas where caregivers can afford to pay fees.