This paper examines the determinants of school readiness among South African preschoolers, with a specific focus on early numeracy and literacy skills. Using Thrive by Five Index 2024 data, it adopts a multifaceted, ecological approach that considers child-level, caregiver, and programme-level influences. The study analyses how these different factors interact to shape children’s readiness for formal schooling. It highlights the relative contribution of children’s own developmental capabilities compared to environmental influences. The findings provide important insights into where interventions may be most effective in strengthening early learning outcomes.
Children’s cognitive, motor, emotional, and attentional skills are the strongest predictors of school readiness, while caregiver and programme factors play a more indirect role.
Many children enter school without foundational skills, affecting long-term learning trajectories.
Parents, educators, policymakers, and programme designers.
Authors: Parvin Nemati; Gabrielle Garon-Carrier; Annie Lemieux; Elizabeth Henning; Mojtaba Soltanlou
Title: Determinants of School Readiness in South African Preschoolers: A Multifaceted Analysis of Numeracy and Literacy Skills
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