Thrive by Five Index: South Africa

The Thrive by Five Index is a national study that measures whether young children in South Africa are developmentally on track by the time they turn five. It provides a picture of children’s development before they enter formal schooling and generates evidence to inform policies, programmes and investments aimed at improving early childhood development (ECD).

Coordinated by DataDrive2030 in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and other stakeholders, the Thrive by Five Index aims to make children’s developmental outcomes visible at a national scale and support evidence-based action to improve them.

What does the Thrive by Five Index measure? The Index examines three key areas of child development:

• Early Learning: Measures children’s emerging skills in language and literacy, numeracy, cognition, executive functioning and motor development.
• Physical Growth: Assesses children’s physical growth and nutritional status, including indicators such as stunting.
• Social-Emotional Functioning: Examines children’s ability to manage emotions, interact with others and demonstrate behaviours that support relationships and learning.

Together, these measures provide insights into children’s developmental progress and the factors that influence their readiness for school.

How is the Index conducted? The Thrive by Five Index uses standardised assessment tools, structured sampling methods and contextual information to build a comprehensive picture of early childhood development in South Africa. The study includes assessments of children attending Early Learning Programmes (ELPs), information about their home circumstances, and measures of programme quality.

Key tools include the Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM) 4&5 Years Direct Assessment and the Learning Programme Quality Assessment (LPQA). Caregiver, Practitioner, Principal interviews and other contextual data help researchers explore the circumstances associated with children’s developmental outcomes.

Why does the Thrive by Five Index matter? The Index provides an evidence base for understanding how children are developing, where inequalities exist and where additional support is needed. Its findings can inform government planning, resource allocation, programme improvement and further research.

By identifying patterns and differences in developmental outcomes, the Index helps stakeholders move beyond measuring access to early learning towards understanding the quality of children’s experiences and whether these experiences are supporting their development.

The Index is not intended to rank individual preschools. Its purpose is to provide a population-level picture of children’s development and to support collective action across the early childhood development sector.

Looking ahead With national studies conducted in 2021 and 2024, and the next round planned for 2027, the Thrive by Five Index provides an important opportunity to track progress over time, identify persistent challenges and strengthen the evidence informing early childhood development in South Africa.

Ultimately, the Index is about translating data into action: using evidence to guide decisions, strengthen early learning opportunities and help ensure that every child has a fair start in life.