The recent changes to the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill have been a hot topic in the South African education community, especially making the reception year compulsory as soon as 2024.

Research has consistently shown that quality early childhood education can have a lasting positive impact on a child’s cognitive abilities, language skills, and socio-emotional development. Grade R is a critical stage in a child’s education journey as it lays the foundation for future academic success.

In this edition we explore some benefits of Compulsory Grade R.