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ECD Practitioner

ECD Practitioner CV example and template (South Africa)

Updated November 2026 · Written for South African employers

ECD (early childhood development) practitioners, also called ECD educators, plan and run the daily programme for babies, toddlers and young children in crèches, educare centres, preschools, playgroups and Grade R classes. They are hired by the owners and principals of ECD centres, by NGOs and church-run centres, by private preschool groups and by primary schools for Grade R. Since 1 April 2022 ECD falls under the Department of Basic Education instead of Social Development (the "function shift"), so ECD programmes and partial care facilities, the Children's Act term for a centre caring for more than six children, are now registered through the provincial education departments. A principal reading your CV checks three things first: your ECD qualification and its NQF level, which age group you have worked with, and whether you can be cleared for child protection, because the Children's Act says a centre must check that a new staff member's name is not on Part B of the National Child Protection Register before employing them.

The example below is for a practitioner in Bloemfontein with a Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC) in ECD at NQF level 4 and a Higher Certificate in ECD at NQF level 5, who taught Grade R before taking over the three- to four-year-old class at a registered centre. It shows how to write about planning with the National Curriculum Framework, observation records and developmental milestones. If you are starting out, list your course practical placements and any time helping at a crèche, Sunday school or holiday club. When you choose a course, ask the provider which qualification is open for new learners: SAQA lists 30 June 2026 as the last enrolment date for the FETC in ECD, and new learners usually enrol for the QCTO Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner (NQF level 4) instead.

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ECD Practitioner CV example

Mmathabo Modise

ECD Practitioner (3 to 4 years and Grade R) with FETC ECD (NQF 4) and Higher Certificate ECD (NQF 5)

072 555 0147 · mmathabo.modise@example.co.za · Bloemfontein, Free State

Profile

Patient and well-organised ECD practitioner with eight years of experience with children from two years old to Grade R in Bloemfontein and Botshabelo. Holds the FETC in Early Childhood Development (NQF 4) and the Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Development (NQF 5). Runs the daily programme for 20 three- to four-year-olds at a registered ECD centre, plans weekly themes across the six early learning and development areas of the National Curriculum Framework, keeps observation records and milestone checklists for every child, and writes progress reports for parents twice a year. Cleared against Part B of the National Child Protection Register, with First Aid Level 1. Looking for a senior practitioner or Grade R post.

Work experience

ECD Practitioner (3 to 4 years)

Kgothatso Educare Centre (registered ECD programme), Bloemfontein | Jan 2022 – Present

Run the daily programme for 20 children aged three to four with one assistant
Plan weekly themes across the six NCF early learning and development areas
Write weekly observation notes and keep a portfolio for every child
Complete milestone checklists and write progress reports for 20 families twice a year
Mark the daily attendance register used for the centre's per-child subsidy claims
Helped prepare the centre for its full (Gold) registration inspection in 2024

Grade R Practitioner (SGB post)

Rethabile Primary School, Botshabelo | Jan 2019 – Dec 2021

Taught Home Language, Mathematics and Life Skills to a Grade R class of 32 learners from the CAPS programme
Assessed learners mainly through observation during daily activities and recorded their progress for the Foundation Phase head of department
Ran a reading corner and daily story time in Sesotho and English
Prepared Grade R learners and their parents for the move to Grade 1

ECD Assistant

Little Steps Crèche, Bloemfontein | Feb 2017 – Dec 2018

Helped the practitioner care for 15 toddlers aged two to three, including meals, toileting and rest time
Completed the practical part of the FETC in ECD under the practitioner's supervision

Education

Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development

Accredited ECD training provider (distance learning), 2023, NQF level 5

Further Education and Training Certificate: Early Childhood Development

ETDP SETA-accredited ECD training provider, Bloemfontein, 2018, NQF level 4

National Senior Certificate (Matric)

Lekhulong Secondary School, Mangaung, 2016, NQF level 4

Subjects: Sesotho Home Language, English First Additional Language, Mathematical Literacy, Life Sciences, Consumer Studies, Life Orientation

Skills

NCF planning for children from birth to four
Grade R CAPS teaching
Observation records and portfolios
Developmental milestone checklists
Learning through play
Inclusive practice
Low-cost learning resources
Parent communication and progress reports

Certificates

Clearance, Part B of the National Child Protection Register, National Department of Social Development, 2025
First Aid Level 1, St John South Africa, 2025
Basic Fire Fighting, Accredited fire safety training provider, 2024

Achievements

Two of three children I referred for speech or hearing checks started therapy before Grade R
Made about 40 puzzles, games and picture books from waste materials for the centre in one year

Personal details

Nationality:: South African
Languages:: Sesotho (Home language), English (Fluent), Setswana (Good), Afrikaans (Basic)
Notice period:: One month, or from the end of a school term
Availability:: Full days, Monday to Friday, after one month's notice

References

Mrs Puleng Sebola

Principal, Kgothatso Educare Centre

051 555 0142

Mrs Elmarie Olivier

Foundation Phase Head of Department, Rethabile Primary School

051 555 0189

ECD Practitioner CV summary you can copy

Change the details so they are true for you.

Patient and well-organised ECD practitioner with eight years of experience with children from two years old to Grade R in Bloemfontein and Botshabelo. Holds the FETC in Early Childhood Development (NQF 4) and the Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Development (NQF 5). Runs the daily programme for 20 three- to four-year-olds at a registered ECD centre, plans weekly themes across the six early learning and development areas of the National Curriculum Framework, keeps observation records and milestone checklists for every child, and writes progress reports for parents twice a year. Cleared against Part B of the National Child Protection Register, with First Aid Level 1. Looking for a senior practitioner or Grade R post.

Skills to list on your ECD Practitioner CV

Planning daily programmes and weekly themes from the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for birth to four
Planning activities across the six NCF early learning and development areas, from well-being to exploring mathematics
Teaching Grade R Home Language, Mathematics and Life Skills from CAPS, the national school curriculum
Observing children and keeping dated observation notes and portfolios of their work
Tracking developmental milestones in movement, language, thinking and social skills, and referring concerns to parents
Learning through play, with indoor learning areas such as a book corner, block area, fantasy corner and art table
Running daily routines for arrival, toileting, handwashing, meals, rest time and home time
Making puzzles, games and books from waste and low-cost materials
Including children with disabilities or developmental delays in every activity
Health and safety checks of the playroom and outdoor area, and first aid for children
Recognising signs of abuse and neglect and reporting them, as the Children's Act requires of partial care staff
Keeping attendance registers, admission files and incident records up to date
Talking with parents every day and holding parent meetings
Songs, rhymes and stories in Sesotho and English

Duties written as strong bullet points

Ran the daily programme for a class of 20 children aged three to four, from arrival at 07:00 to collection at 17:00, with one assistant
Planned weekly themes with activities across all six NCF early learning and development areas and put the plan up on the theme board for parents every Monday
Wrote at least one dated observation note for every child each week and kept it in the child's portfolio with samples of their drawings and work
Completed a developmental milestone checklist for each child twice a year and wrote progress reports for 20 families every June and November
Spotted possible speech or hearing delays in three children and gave their parents written observations to take to the clinic, where two were referred for therapy
Marked the attendance register every morning, which the centre uses to claim its per-child subsidy from the provincial education department
Set up five indoor learning areas and changed the materials every two weeks to match the theme
Made about 40 new puzzles, counting games and picture books from waste materials in one year
Helped the principal prepare the playroom, children's files and staff records for the inspection that led to the centre's full (Gold) registration in 2024
Taught Home Language, Mathematics and Life Skills to a Grade R class of 32 learners from the CAPS daily and weekly programme

Tips for a stronger ECD Practitioner CV

Write your ECD qualification exactly

Give the full name, NQF level, provider and year, such as "Further Education and Training Certificate, Early Childhood Development, NQF level 4". Add the SAQA ID if you have it and say who accredited the provider, such as the ETDP SETA (Education, Training and Development Practices SETA) or the QCTO. If you are still studying, write "(in progress)" and the year you expect to finish.

Name the age group and the size of your class

Babies, toddlers, three- to four-year-olds and Grade R need different skills, so write the ages and the number of children in your headline or job titles, such as "ECD Practitioner, 3 to 4 years, class of 20". A principal filling a baby room post looks for baby experience first.

Show how you plan and observe

Write that you plan from the NCF for children under four, or from CAPS in Grade R, and describe your observation records, portfolios, milestone checklists and progress reports. This is what separates a practitioner from a child minder, and it is what a principal or district official checks during a visit.

Have your child protection clearance ready

Centres must check Part B of the National Child Protection Register for every staff member, using Form 30, and the registration of a centre needs clearances for all its staff. Many centres also ask for a police clearance certificate. If you already have a recent clearance, list it under certificates with the year, so the principal knows you can start without a long wait.

Add first aid and fire safety courses

Partial care registration asks for staff with first aid and basic fire fighting training, and centres that cook for the children need someone with food handling training. Each of these courses can make you the practitioner a centre needs, so list them with the provider and year.

Questions people ask

Which qualifications do ECD practitioners need in South Africa?

The usual first qualification is NQF level 4. This was the Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC) in Early Childhood Development (SAQA ID 58761), quality assured by the ETDP SETA, whose last enrolment date on SAQA was 30 June 2026. The newer option is the QCTO Occupational Certificate, Early Childhood Development Practitioner (SAQA ID 97542, NQF level 4, 131 credits), which includes practical work in an ECD setting. The next step is the Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Development at NQF level 5. Ask any provider which qualification they are accredited for and when enrolment closes.

What is the National Curriculum Framework for children from birth to four?

The NCF is the Department of Basic Education's guide for anyone working with babies, toddlers and young children up to four years old. It organises learning into six early learning and development areas (ELDAs) - well-being; identity and belonging; communication; exploring mathematics; creativity; and knowledge and understanding of the world. Grade R follows CAPS instead. Naming the NCF and the ELDAs on your CV shows you plan with purpose, not just keep children busy.

Who registers ECD centres now?

The Children's Act requires ECD programmes and partial care facilities, such as centres caring for more than six young children, to be registered. Since the function shift on 1 April 2022 this is done by the provincial education departments, not Social Development. Under the Department of Basic Education's registration drive, a centre first gets a Bronze certificate, then Silver (conditional registration) or Gold (full registration) after inspections. If you helped a centre through registration, put it on your CV.

What child protection checks will an ECD centre do on me?

Section 126 of the Children's Act says an employer whose services give access to children must check, before employing you, that your name is not on Part B of the National Child Protection Register. Centres also check the National Register for Sex Offenders, and a centre's registration application must include these clearances for every staff member. Foreign nationals are asked for a police clearance. You cannot work with children if your name is on either register.

Is an ECD practitioner the same as a Grade R teacher?

Not quite. Many Grade R classes in public and independent schools are taught by ECD practitioners with an NQF level 4 or 5 qualification, often in posts paid by the school governing body. To become a qualified Foundation Phase teacher you need a Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching and SACE registration. If you teach Grade R as a practitioner, use the job title the school gave you and say so clearly.

How do I write about observation records on my CV?

Say what you record, how often and what you do with it, such as "weekly observation notes for 20 children, milestone checklists twice a year and written progress reports for parents". Mention any child you helped get support, without names or personal details. This shows you notice when a child needs help early, which is one of the most important parts of the job.