Enrolment
Service Offering
Learning programmes
Accounts & fees
Enrolment
When/How do I enrol my child?
If the centre you wish to enrol your child in is open and currently operating with vacancies in your child(ren)’s age group(s), you can enrol your child(ren) at any time by emailing, phoning or visiting the Earlybird Educare centre you wish to enrol your child(ren) at.
If the centre you wish to enrol your child in is currently under construction, Earlybird’s standard enrolment process is as follows:
What age group do you enrol from?
We accept children from 3-months to 5-years of age (post-maternity leave to pre-Grade R).
How do I schedule a visit?
Navigate to the page for the Educare Centre you wish to visit by clicking on the “Our Educare Centres” menu tab at the top of the Home page. Once you are on the desired Educare Centre’s page, look for the “Schedule a Visit” button and click that.
Alternatively, you can contact us via the “Connect with Us” button at the top right-hand corner of the Home page.
What if the centre I want to enrol my child at is full?
The principal will put your child’s name on the centre’s waiting list and your child will be offered a space at the centre as soon as one becomes available.
Can I reserve a space for my child at a centre before I go on maternity leave?
Yes, if there is space in the Blue Group at the educare centre of your choosing and your baby will be attending as soon as you return from leave, you may reserve a space by paying the registration fee and first months’ fees.
My child doesn’t speak English, will you enrol them?
English is the primary language of instruction and interaction at Earlybird Educare Centres but of course we operate within a multilingual society and are well-versed in the research on dual-language immersion. We welcome children from all backgrounds and will work with parents and families to determine the best way to support each child’s language acquisition and emergent literacy journey.
Do you enrol children with special needs?
We know that all children face some or other barrier or challenge in their learning and development journey at some point and that all children are much better off if they have the opportunity to be integrated into classrooms with children of different interests and abilities. That is to say, we strongly value inclusive education and work hard to ensure that the physical environment of our classrooms, the excellent training our teachers receive and our high adult-to-child ratios allow us to give each child who wishes to attend an Earlybird centre, the opportunities and support they need. We work closely with parents of children with severe barriers to learning and development at the point of enrolment and throughout each their time at Earlybird to keep them integrated into “mainstream” classroom environments for as long as feasible.
Learning Environment and Service Offering
How many children are there in your classes?
Never more than 24 children in a single classroom. All our classrooms adhere to size and spacing regulations.
What are the adult:child ratios in your classes?
For Blue Group (3-18months) it is 1:4
For Green Group (19-34months) it is 1:6
For Yellow Group (35-50months) it is 1:8
For Red Group (51-66months) it is 1:10
What are your teachers’ qualifications?
All of our educare centre staff are qualified for the roles they hold, with a minimum NQF Level 4 Early Childhood qualification required for full-time positions. We also ensure that all team members maintain up-to-date First Aid certification, including Adult, Child, and Infant CPR.
Our teachers and principals are the most important members of our team, and the Earlybird central support team exists to support them, reduce administrative load, and equip them to deliver the best possible care and learning experiences for children.
To ensure ongoing growth and consistency in quality, teachers participate in regular check-ins and ongoing training, both within their centre-based teams and in their specific age-group teams. In addition, we run quarterly all-team training days that are intentionally designed around identified development needs. Teachers are also formally appraised on a quarterly basis by their principal and the Head of Education to ensure that high standards of teaching and practice are consistently maintained.
What ages do you cater for?
For children aged 3-months to 5-years of age.
What are your hours?
Hours differ centre-by-centre but standard hours are 7am-5pm.
Can children attend for a half-day or on a part-time basis?
Children may be picked up before or after nap time (either 12:00 or 14:00) if parents do not wish for them to attend for the full-day. Principals are not authorised to offer discounts for half-day attendance.
Part-time attendance is discouraged because it tends to impact both the child and their peers negatively. Under extraneous circumstances, the principal is authorised to make temporary exceptions to this rule.
Do you close during school holidays?
Our centres close on public holidays and over the December break. They are open throughout the rest of the year.
Do you have after-care?
After-care is centre specific.
Do you offer extra mural activities?
Each centre strives to offer a couple of recommended extra murals through trusted external providers. Consult the principal at your centre for detailed information.
Do you offer meals?
All of our centres offer a seasonal and balanced breakfast and lunch menu. We are mindful of children’s individual dietary needs and take allergies and food aversions seriously when these are communicated to us.
Our teams work closely with families to support safe, inclusive, and positive mealtime experiences for every child.
What should my child wear to school?
Earlybird centres do not have a school uniform. Children may wear whatever clothing they are most comfortable in. Upon registration, each child will receive one Earlybird t-shirt, which they are welcome to wear on our “Same-Same Fridays” if they wish.
At Earlybird, we value hands-on learning, sensory play, and messy play experiences. This means children may sometimes come home a little messier than when they arrived – usually a sign of a fun and engaging day.
While teachers encourage children to care for their clothing and develop clean-up skills, we do recommend sending children in comfortable clothes suitable for play and exploration, rather than their finest outfits.
What should I do if my child is sick?
All necessary precautions will be taken to prevent the spread of communicable illnesses.
We understand that children do get sick from time to time, and we will always respond with care and support. If a child becomes unwell during the school day, they will be supervised in a separate area where possible, and parents or emergency contacts will be contacted immediately to collect the child as soon as possible.
No non-emergency medication or treatment will be given without prior parental consent. In the case of a medical emergency, the centre will take all reasonable steps necessary to ensure the child receives appropriate care.
To help keep all children and staff healthy, we ask that children who are unwell or contagious remain at home until they are fit to return to school.
What happens if my child gets sick while they are at school?
All necessary actions shall be taken by all staff to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, including sick-bay isolation. No non-emergency treatment will be provided without prior consent. The centre staff will contact you (and/or other contacts listed) to inform you of the child’s symptoms and request that you collect the child as soon as possible.