On July the 6th 2020, almost four months after ECD facilities were required to shut down, the Gauteng High Court passed a judgement for ECD programmes to resume with immediate effect, on condition that they adhere to Covid-19 operating protocols.

In anticipation of the re-opening of the ECD sector, Ntataise developed a comprehensive ‘Emerging from Lockdown’ short course. Realising that operating in a Covid-19 context would be unfamiliar to practitioners and families alike, the course offers both practical assistance and necessary emotional support. Despite standard operating procedures that ensure the safe re-opening of ECD facilities and the wellbeing of children, staff and parents/family members still remain cautious. This short course specifically addresses these anxieties and encourages parents / caregivers to enroll their young children when centres are ready to re-open.

The course has already been tested in the field by several Ntataise Network member organisations with successful outcomes. Its structure consists of a series of four sessions whose content is aligned with the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures for ECD facilities outlined by the Department of Social Development. Topics cover an introduction and overview of the Covid-19 context; self-care and supporting the psychological wellbeing of staff members and children; capacitating parents and community members; and practical guidelines for reopening ECD centres.