What is Grade 00?
Why is Grade 00 so important?
Grade R was compulsorily introduced in South Africa to ensure adequate preparation of children for entering primary school in Grade 1. In Grade R, children officially become mature learners. Our Grade R readiness groups offers a gentle introduction into the formal foundation phase learning. Learners move from mostly unstructured learning in the beginning of the year to a more structured learning toward the latter half of the year, where they are introduced to the early concepts that they will build on in their final Grade R year with us.
We have found that Learners that have started with us in the earlier years adapt easily to this new level. Yet learners joining us for the first time, quickly adapt to our school atmosphere and by the end of the first term become confident leaders and enjoy the curriculum and social interactions with peers in their own age group.
What do Our Grade 00 (Readiness) Teachers do?
Our Grade R readiness teachers teach Grade 00 within a prescribed minimum of the curriculum, according to the relevant Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) documents, however they go beyond this curriculum with focused learning objectives .
We explore a rich integrated learning programme, with exposure to arts, music and fantasy play.
The main tasks of Grade 00 Readiness teachers include the following:
Expose learners to language incidentally through planned interactive activities and through play-based learning.
Expose learners to the following mathematics content areas through play-based activities:
- numbers, operations and relationships;
- patterns, functions and algebra;
- space and shape (geometry);
- measurement; and
- data handling.
Develop learners’ life skills in the following areas:
- beginning knowledge and personal and social well-being;
- creative arts; and
- physical education