You do not have to walk this journey alone.
Some of the most powerful learning does not happen in a workshop — it happens between practitioners and principals who trust each other enough to share what is really going on. The wins, the struggles, the things that nobody warned you about.
Start your own ECD club
An ECD club is a small, regular gathering of practitioners or centre leaders who meet to learn from each other, support each other, and grow together. In a club, you stop feeling alone — others face the same struggles. You learn faster, support each other, and grow stronger together.
Who should join
A good club is 5 to 8 members. Big enough for energy, small enough for trust.
Members can be centre leaders/practitioners from nearby centres. Perhaps a mix of new and experienced people — the new bring fresh questions, the experienced bring hard-won wisdom.
The most important thing? Choose people you can be honest with. A club that only shares the good news is not really a club.
How to start
- Step 1: Find your people. Look around. Who do you already see at KET workshops? Whose centre is close to yours? Who do you trust? Send some messages and schedule your first meet up.
- Step 2: Set a simple rhythm. Once you have momentum, meet once a month on your own — separate from KET workshops. Even an hour is enough. Same day each month if you can (e.g. last Friday at 2pm). Rotate who hosts.
- Step 3: Agree how you will meet. A simple structure helps:
- 15 minutes — check-ins. How is everyone? One win and one struggle per person.
- 30 minutes — a topic. Pick one theme: parent meetings, staff discipline, a registration step, a tricky child, fundraising.
- 15 minutes — what next. Anything you want to ask each other for, or follow up on.
- Step 4: Build trust slowly. What is shared in the club stays in the club. No gossip. No competing. Just honest, kind support between people who get it.
TIPS
- Start small. Stay consistent. Better to meet for one hour every month than three hours once.
- Keep it informal. Coffee, a kitchen table, a stoep, a corner of a classroom — wherever works. This is not a board meeting.
- WhatsApp between meetings. A group chat keeps the connection alive when you cannot meet face to face.
- Celebrate each other. Congratulate someone who reaches Silver registration. Show up for each other’s concerts. Cheer each other on.
- Invite a guest sometimes. A KET PAL, a local social worker, a Foundation Phase teacher, a parent. New voices keep the conversation fresh.
At the links below you can access articles featuring to the voices of ECD practitioners across Knysna. Real experiences, real insights, and real journeys — shared so that others can learn, feel less alone, and be inspired to keep growing.
New stories are added regularly. Come back often or follow us on social media where we share all our new content.
Stories from principals and senior practitioners on leading and growing an ECD centre — the challenges, the milestones, and the moments that shaped them.
Practitioners’ reflections on what works inside the classroom — the activities, surprises, and small changes that made a big difference.
Share Your Story
Are you an ECD practitioner with a story worth telling? We would love to hear from you. Get in touch with your KET Preschool Area Lead or email us at admin@knysnaedutrust.co.za