How to Choose a Preschool in South Africa: A Parent's Checklist
Updated 2026-07-11
Choosing a preschool is one of the biggest decisions you'll make for your child before Grade R. The good news: a handful of practical checks separates great schools from risky ones, and none of them require an education degree.
Start with registration
Every early childhood development (ECD) programme in South Africa should be registered. Since the ECD function moved from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), registration has been managed through the DBE, and the Bana Pele mass registration drive has pushed thousands of programmes to formalise.
Ask the principal directly:
- Is the programme registered (or in the process of registering) with the DBE?
- Is there a certificate you can see, and is it current?
- Is the kitchen certified if meals are provided?
A school that gets defensive about this question is telling you something.
Look at ratios, not just class size
South African norms suggest roughly these adult-to-child ratios:
| Age group | Suggested ratio |
|---|---|
| 0–18 months | 1 adult per 6 babies |
| 18 months–3 years | 1 adult per 12 children |
| 3–4 years | 1 adult per 20 children |
| 5–6 years | 1 adult per 30 children |
A class of 24 three-year-olds with one teacher and one assistant is fine. The same class with a single adult is not.
Visit at a normal time
Book your tour for mid-morning on a weekday, when the programme is in full swing. Watch for:
- Children who look engaged and comfortable approaching teachers
- Staff talking to children, not just at them
- Clean bathrooms scaled to small bodies
- Secure access control — you should have been signed in
- Outdoor play space with shade and intact equipment
Ask about the day, not the brochure
- What does a typical day look like, hour by hour?
- How do you handle discipline? (Listen for connection-based answers, not punishment.)
- How do you communicate with parents — daily app updates, a book bag, WhatsApp?
- What happens when a child is sick or injured?
- What's the staff turnover been like in the past two years?
Understand the full cost
The monthly fee is rarely the whole story. Ask about registration fees, annual increases, stationery and equipment levies, aftercare surcharges, holiday care, and whether fees are payable over 11 or 12 months. See our crèche and preschool fees guide for typical ranges.
Trust the re-visit
If you're torn between two schools, ask both for a second, unannounced-ish visit at drop-off time. Watching how children arrive — happy, clingy, indifferent — and how staff greet them tells you more than any open day.