Online schooling for Grade R: What parents should know about pre-primary online
Can a 5 or 6-year-old really do Grade R online? It’s a valid question. Grade R (Reception Year) is traditionally about play, sandpits, and learning to sit in a circle. Parents often worry that sending their child to pre-primary online means losing those developmental skills and magic.
But, at Teneo, we have reimagined online Grade R to be something unique and effective.
We don't try to replicate the sandpit or the classroom experience; we have created a new kind of playground and learning environment that prepares "Generation Alpha" for the digital world they will step into after school – all without sacrificing social opportunities.
It’s not just "screens"
Whether you’re considering online school for your child’s first year of school as you settle into a new home, or whether it’s a more permanent option – online schooling is a huge opportunity for your child in many ways.
But there are a lot of misconceptions around how it all works. especially for pre-primary ages. The biggest misconception is that online Grade R means 6 hours of sitting at a desk, staring into a Zoom conference call. But that would be impossible for a child this age!
That’s why Teneo’s pre-primary online experience is a mix of:
Live "circle time": Short, energetic sessions with the teacher to say hello, sing songs, and learn the theme of the day.
Offline play: The teacher sets a task (e.g., "Find three things in your garden that start with the letter B"), and the child goes off-screen to do it.
Creative arts: Drawing, cutting, and pasting are done on real paper at your kitchen table, not on an iPad.
Building social skills in pre-primary online
If you choose hybrid or live learning with Teneo, your child will participate in live lessons with the teacher and their peers, and can collaborate with one another over Zoom.
This hybrid format allows for a good mix of screen time for “in-classroom” learning, and off-screen time for hands-on skill building.
But when does your child get to socialise with other kids? While online school means losing out on in-person interaction with other children, it opens up so much more time to socialise with kids that they may get along with better, rather than children they may be lumped into a classroom with who don’t like the same things they do.
Your child’s social life doesn’t have to be dependent on a learning space. Online Grade R with Teneo would mean less travel time in the mornings and afternoons – leaving more time for playing with neighbourhood friends at local parks, or in extramural activities.
The Grade R online curriculum: CAPS Aligned
At Teneo, we strategically follow the online CAPS curriculum for Grade R, covering:
Home language: Listening, speaking, and emerging literacy.
Mathematics: Counting, shapes, and patterns.
Life skills: Personal hygiene, safety, and creative arts.
This means if you decide to send your child to a physical school for Grade 1 or beyond, they will be perfectly prepared and up to date on learning materials.
The "learning coach" Requirement
While Teneo has skilled, present instructors every step of the way to guide your child, online Grade R still requires the support of you as the parent/guardian.
You cannot leave a Grade R student alone to "do school." You (or a nanny/tutor) must be present to help:
Log them in.
Mute/unmute throughout the class.
Upload photos of their drawings and tasks.
Supervise their offline play time.
Why choose online Grade R instead of in-person?
Online schooling isn’t an option for everyone, but it can be an extremely beneficial option for many children. Some of the main benefits we haven’t mentioned yet:
Higher safety: No exposure to bullying, illness or other safety risks associated with travelling to an in-person institution at a young age.
Time-saving: No more rushing in traffic at 7 AM, and scrambling for 3 PM pickups. Online means more free time to do what you enjoy, and more time with family.
Consistency with flexibility: Beginning online school with Teneo means you have the freedom to switch to any type of school for any grade because of our compliance with CAPS curriculum. It also offers consistency if your family travels or needs to move schools often – allowing your child to learn in one place with the same friends all the way until Matric.
Gentle introduction: Teneo allows your child to start their schooling journey from the safety of home, building confidence before they face the wider world. This is especially helpful for neurodivergent learners or children who face other physical or mental health barriers.
Your child belongs at Teneo
Teneo is rated the no. 1 online school in South Africa by HelloPeter. With 170+ SACE-registered teachers, we have helped more than 3 500 learners matriculate with a National Senior Certificate (NSC), opening the doors to tertiary education and future career opportunities. Our award-winning Smart School System™combines the best parts of in-person schooling, with the convenience and benefits of online learning for learners across South Africa. If you’re ready to take the next step towards education of the future, start your learning journey with Teneo today.