Brief
Roots & Shoots study finds early readiness alone won’t secure Grade‑3 success
The Mr Price Foundation study tracks 557 learners from Grade R to Grade 3, revealing stark gaps linked to school fees and context.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Mr Price Foundation’s fourth‑wave Roots & Shoots study, covering 75 public primary schools in five Western Cape districts, reports that early developmental readiness does not guarantee Grade 3 reading proficiency, especially for learners in no‑fee and low‑fee schools.
What happened
The longitudinal study began in 2022 with 557 Grade R learners. By Term 3 of 2025, 401 of those learners were reassessed in Grade 3. Of the 75 schools, 68 (91%) serve historically disadvantaged communities and charge no or very low fees. By Grade 3, 92% of learners in mid‑fee schools met the reading benchmark, versus 49% in no‑fee schools and 36% in low‑fee schools.
What the reports add
The study shows that learning gaps evident at school entry persist through the Foundation Phase. Among learners observed in both waves, the proportion classified as ‘on track’ fell from 56% to 40% in no‑fee schools and from 58% to 32% in low‑fee schools, while mid‑fee schools remained stable (88% to 90%).
What was said
Octavius Phukubye, director of the Mr Price Foundation, said, “School‑readiness is necessary but not sufficient. Even when children start school developmentally on track, many in poorer schools fall behind.” He added that expanding early‑learning access alone will not bring learners to grade level without improvements in teaching quality.
Dr Heleen Hofmeyr, lead researcher at Stellenbosch University, explained, “We have followed the same learners from Grade R through to Grade 3, which gives us a much clearer picture of how learning develops over time. Early advantage is not equally sustained; school context appears to play an important role.”
How it came about
The Roots & Shoots study was designed to follow a cohort of learners from Grade R through the Foundation Phase, providing a rare longitudinal view of early‑childhood development in the Western Cape. Earlier Felo coverage of education‑related initiatives in South Africa highlighted the need for sustained support beyond early‑learning programmes.
Key facts
- The study began in 2022 with 557 Grade R learners across 75 schools. (bizcommunity.com)
- By 2025, 401 learners were reassessed in Grade 3. (bizcommunity.com)
- 92% of mid‑fee school learners met the Grade 3 reading benchmark, compared with 49% in no‑fee schools and 36% in low‑fee schools. (bizcommunity.com)
- The proportion ‘on track’ fell to 40% in no‑fee schools and 32% in low‑fee schools, while remaining stable in mid‑fee schools. (bizcommunity.com)
Timeline
- 2022-01-01 — Roots & Shoots study launched with 557 Grade R learners
- 2025-03-01 — Wave 4 assessment of 401 learners in Grade 3
- 2026-10-12 — Bizcommunity publishes study findings
Sources
- [1] bizcommunity.com — originally reported as “Mr Price Foundation Roots & Shoots study reveals early readiness does not guarantee Gr3 success”
