1. Department of Social Development
South African Integrated Programme of Action for Early Childhood Development- Moving Ahead ( )
SELECT COMMITTEE
28 OCTOBER 2014
Top Management - 15 October 2010

2. OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION
Purpose
Introduction
Background
SA Integrated POA for ECD- Moving Ahead ( )
Conclusion

3. PURPOSE
To provide progress on the South African Integrated Programme of Action for Early Childhood Development-Moving Ahead ( ).

4. INTRODUCTION
ECD is a national priority programme under Outcome 1 – Quality Education as government has supported the principle of investment in Children.
The National Planning commission in the national development plan indicated that action was needed to improve ECD Services.
Core of the NDP is the focus on capabilities of the people and of the country.
ECD is critical to ensure better performance in formal schooling which will later result in improved levels of employment

5. BACKGROUND
Department of Social Development and key partners launched an awareness campaign to promote ECD in local communities in 2010.
There were three National activities which impacted on ECD services in South Africa from 2011/2012:
Review of the National Integrated Plan for Early Childhood Development
ECD Diagnostic Review and the
ECD Conference Action Plan.
The above processes were merged into a draft “An Integrated Programme of Action for Early Childhood Development- Moving Ahead ”.

6. BACKGROUND
The South African Integrated Programme of Action for Early Childhood Development- Moving Ahead (2013 to 2016) was approved by Cabinet on the 18 September 2013 and had the following time frames for implementation:
Short Term: April 2013 – March 2014
Medium Term: April 2014 – March 2015
Long Term: April 2016 – March 2017
Costing process on the Integrated Programme of Action which also addresses issues in the Policy is in progress with National Treasury.

7. South African Integrated Programme of Action for Early Childhood Development- Moving Ahead (2013 to 2016).
Legislation and Policy
Institutional arrangements/Coordination and integration
Human resources, training and capacity building
Comprehensive ECD Programme
ECD Infrastructure
Funding and partnerships
Research, Monitoring and Evaluation
Communication and awareness

8. 1. LEGISLATION AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
OUTPUT
TIMEFRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
Develop the ECD policy.
Develop an integrated ECD Policy.
Cost and implement an integrated ECD Policy
31 March 2014
Draft ECD Policy developed
National consultations were conducted.
Extended Steering Committee consultation held on May 2014
Provincial consultations on the draft ECD Policy took place in June 2014 and were completed in August 2014.
Consultations were also done with the ECD Disability Sector on during September and October 2014.
Currently consolidating inputs from the consultations and preparing for the gazetting.
Costing process on the Integrated Programme of Action which also addresses issues in the Policy is in progress with National Treasury. Meetings were held in February, April and July to discuss funding models for ECD provisioning.

9. 1. LEGISLATION AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
OUTPUT
TIMEFRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
All legislation, Regulations, Policy and municipal by-laws pertaining to Early Childhood Development reviewed.
Norms and standards for differentiated ECD services, provisioning and funding for ECD reviewed and new norms and standards developed.
31 March 2015
To ensure that the time frame is met the following action are taking place from March 2014.
All participating departments review norms and standards on ECD reporting quarterly .
Submission of collated information to DSD.
Harmonisation of all identified Norms and Standards according to new policy
UNICEF will provide technical support for harmonisation of all identified Norms and Standards.

10. 1. LEGISLATION AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
OUTPUT
TIMEFRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
Amendment of the Children's Act on ECD.
31 March 2015
Consulting processes underway. The second amendment is to be presented at parliament for approval. DSD legislative amendments to be made once policy is approved.
An Integrated Strategy for the implementation of universal access for children birth to school going age developed.
The concept of universal access for public good is articulated in the new policy
Rollout plan to be developed once policy is approved

11. 2. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS, COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION
OUTPUT
TIMEFRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
Feasibility study conducted on options for inter-sectoral management and coordination.
31 March 2014
The options for inter-sectoral management and coordination are reflected on the draft ECD Policy.
The draft ECD Policy recommends the establishment of non- sectoral ECD Agency and a number of alternative coordination mechanisms in different departments.
Draft ECD Policy propose the establishment of a branch in DSD as government should not loose control and strengthen DBE and DOH.

12. 3. HUMAN RESOURCES, TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
OUTPUT
PRESENT TIMEFRAME AS PER ACTION PLAN
CURRENT SITUATION
Human Resource Development plan for the ECD Sector.
31 March 2015
Each participating department to do a comprehensive HR plan.
Submission of collated information received from Departments.
DSD received HR Plans from the provinces.
In the process of developing DSD HR Plan.
DBE has developed an ECD curriculum for children birth to school going age and stimulation material.
Implementation of Curriculum according to DBE Minister’s speech commences in January 2015.

13. 3. HUMAN RESOURCES, TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
OUTPUT
PRESENT TIMEFRAME AS PER ACTION PLAN
CURRENT SITUATION
31 March 2015
The Department of Higher Education and Training
developed a draft policy on Community Colleges.
The draft National Policy on Community Colleges provides a framework for the process of establishing community colleges, governance and management of these institutional types, employment of staff, funding framework, programmes and qualification offerings, quality assurance, examination and assessment, regulation of private provision as well as monitoring and evaluation.

14. 4. COMPREHENSIVE ECD PROGRAMME/SERVICES
OUTPUT
TIMEFRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
A comprehensive ECD programme for children birth to four years with roles and responsibilities of government departments and other stakeholders.
31 March 2014
Draft Comprehensive ECD Programme developed
National consultations were conducted.
Extended Steering Committee consultation held on May 2014
Provincial consultations on the draft ECD Comprehensive Programme took place in June 2014 and were completed in August 2014.
Consultations were also done with the ECD Disability Sector on during September and October 2014.
Currently consolidating inputs from the consultations and preparing for the gazetting.
Costing process on the Integrated Programme of Action which also addresses issues in the Comprehensive ECD Programme is in progress with National Treasury. Meetings were held in February, April and July to discuss funding models for ECD provisioning.

15. 5. ECD INFRASTRUCTURE OUTPUT TIMEFRAME CURRENT SITUATION
Audit of existing ECD infrastructure provisioning.
31 March 2014
Audit conducted in all the provinces in the 2013/14 financial .
Audit finalised by the end of March 2014.
The final report received end of May 2014.
Provincial ECD reports were send out for comments and inputs.
Feedback on the ECD Audit reports to be presented to different provinces.
Provinces to develop a plan on how the database will be managed after handover.
Audit report be used to develop their integrated ECD improvement (including infrastructure) plans with all stakeholders.

16. 6. FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS
OUTPUT
TIME FRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
Identify and conduct research on all existing funding models.
31 March 2015
DSD to develop a concept paper on new funding and payment models for ECD services. This will include movement from payment according to attendance to monthly payment.
The ECD policy suggests that the subsidy be increased to R20.
The other suggestion regarding funding is that there be a movement towards programme funding

17. 6. FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS
OUTPUT
TIME FRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
Funding norms and standards developed for ECD.
31 March 2015
Harmonisation of all identified Norms and Standards according to new policy
UNICEF will provide technical support for harmonisation of all identified Norms and Standards
Identify government and private donors to leverage resources for ECD services including children with disabilities.
31 March 2014
A workshop with government (National Interdepartmental Committee for ECD) and private donors was held on the 20 March Roles and Responsibilities were spelt out.
A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for 28 October 2014 with the donor forum.
Strengthening of the existing ECD donor forum for ECD services.
A workshop with government (National Interdepartmental Committee for ECD) and private donors was held on the 20 March 2014.

18. 7. RESEARCH, MONITORING AND EVALUATION
OUTPUT
TIME FRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
Develop an Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation framework for ECD
March 2016
Review the existing Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks and align them to the new ECD Policy by DPME.

19. 8. COMMUNICATION AND AWARENESS
OUTPUT
TIME FRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
Develop an integrated inter-sectoral awareness raising and communication strategy.
31 March 2014
Process is still underway and it will be completed after the finalisation of the ECD policy.
Communication materials developed
31 March 2015
The department conducted interviews on various SABC radio stations communicating key messages on the importance of ECD.
Roll out of the ICT strategy for children.
The national steering committee agreed that the ICT strategy be presented to the donor forum for further support with IT equipment for ECD centres.
The meeting with Department of Communication was held on 5 August 2014 to discuss the ICT Strategy and other issues relating to advocacy and awareness raising strategy.

20. 8. COMMUNICATION AND AWARENESS
OUTPUT
TIME FRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
Advocacy, Communications and Social Mobilisation Campaign implemented.
31 March 2015
Process is still to commence.
Dedicated ECD Week held.
National Steering Committee is meeting monthly and processes are underway planning for the ECD week in March 2015.

21. 8. COMMUNICATION AND AWARENESS
OUTPUT
TIME FRAME
CURRENT SITUATION
ECD Annual Awards held.
31 March 2014
An action plan was developed at the close out meeting held on 26 and 27 March 2014.

22. PROPOSED REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR ECD CENTRES AND PROGRAMMES
To facilitate the registration process the following proposal for ECD centres and programmes were introduced:
ECD Re-Registration has to be completed in terms of the Children’s Act i.e. 5 years after the promulgation of the Act. This process will commence from July 2014 and be completed by March 2015.
Proposed gold, silver and bronze categories to ensure that all ECD’s are registered.

23. CAPACITY BUILDING
The Department of Social Development has conducted capacity building sessions in relation to the South African Programme of Action for ECD (Moving Ahead 2013 – 2016), registration and re - registration process of ECD centres and ECD programmes and Partial Care strategy.
All Provinces were capacitated from June 2014 to August 2014.

24. REGISTERED ECD CENTRES 2014/15
PROVINCE
NO OF REGISTERED ECD CENTRES BY 1ST QUARTER 2014/15
Gauteng
3697
Mpumalanga
1684
Kwazulu-Natal
3898
Free State
1443
Limpopo
2975
North West
1349
Eastern Cape
3056
Northern Cape
590
Western Cape
1 750
Total
20 442

25. Number of children receiving subsidy 2014/15
PROVINCE
RATE PER CHILD PER DAY
PER MONTH
PER YEAR
NUMBER OF CHILDREN
Mpumalanga
R15
R731,
R193, 066,440.00
Gauteng
R1,058,895.00
R279,
70.993
Kwazulu Natal
R16
R1,380,944.00
R364,569,216.00
86.309
Limpopo
R1,088,165.00
R274,075,560.00
69.211
North West
R364,395.00
R91,448,280.00
23.093
Free State
R686,265.00
R181,173,960.00
45.751
Western Cape
R885,000.00
R233,
59.000
Eastern Cape
R860,475.00
R227,165,400.00
57.365
Northern Cape
R74,220.00
R19,994,080.00
4.948
Total
R136.00
R7,061,444.00
R1,864,221,216.00
465,009.00

26. Number of Children receiving ECD services
PROVINCE
2014/15
Mpumalanga
127,685
Gauteng
168,822
Kwazulu Natal
145,169
Limpopo
147,818
North West
73,587
Free State
110,275
Western Cape
103,200
Northern Cape
31,924
Eastern Cape
83, 613
Total
992, 093

27. RECOMMENDATION
Select Committee to take note of the SA Integrated ECD Programme of Action for Early Childhood Development - Moving Ahead ( ) and support its implementation.

28. THANK YOU