On December 4, Cotlands announced a major strategic repivot that will position the organisation at the forefront of early childhood care and education innovation in South Africa.

Effective January 1, 2026, Cotlands will transition to a new service model aligned with the Bana Pele Shared Blueprint to achieve universal access to Quality Early Learning (DBE, 2025), establishing integrated Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Hubs that bring together early learning, a learning-materials library and comprehensive training services.

This shift comes at a time when the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector is undergoing significant transformation.

Since the ECD function shifted to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Cotlands has experienced a substantial reduction in government funding.

The DBE has further confirmed that from FY2027 onward, public financing will prioritise centre-based programmes with silver registration, excluding non-centre-based playgroups and toy libraries, as national norms and standards for these models are not yet in place.

To comply with the new policy direction and avoid creating multiple non-profit entities with unsustainable governance risks, Cotlands will restructure and close all Cotlands-operated non-centre-based playgroups at the end of 2025.

Looking ahead, Cotlands’ future strategy is centred on establishing Bana Pele Cotlands Community Hubs or ECCE Hubs, which are innovative, integrated centres designed to expand access to quality early learning in underserved communities.

Each ECCE hub will include centre-based early learning, a learning materials library, accredited and non-accredited ECD practitioner training, and caregiver-baby playgroups by FY2027. Cotlands plans to launch two flagship hubs, expanding to one hub in every province by FY2029.

Once fully operational, each hub will reach approximately 1 500 children, empower 180 caregivers, and equip 200 practitioners with early learning skills and resources.

CEO of Cotlands, Dr Monica Stach, expressed optimism about Cotlands’ new strategic path. “This strategic pivot strengthens our ability to reach more young children with the quality early learning opportunities they deserve.”

“Our new ECCE hub model integrates learning, resources and training under one roof, ensuring that no child is left behind. We believe this approach will unlock greater access, equity and impact for young vulnerable children in South Africa.”

Cotlands will continue engaging stakeholders as it prepares to implement this model. Cotlands will host an Investor Coffee & Cake Morning on February 4, 2026, to present the hub model, workshop ideas and invite partners to co-invest in the future of early learning.