You will see 'CAPS' on schoolbooks, reports and our lessons. It stands for the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement — South Africa's national plan for what children learn and when.
What the Foundation Phase covers
The Foundation Phase runs from Grade R to Grade 3 and focuses on Home Language, a First Additional Language and Mathematics, with Life Skills woven through. Reading and writing sit at the centre.
CAPS sets out, term by term, what children should be learning — including phonics, reading of words and sentences, comprehension, and handwriting.
How the grades build up
Grade R focuses on sounds and getting ready to read. Grade 1 begins blending sounds into words. Grades 2 and 3 grow fluency, longer texts and comprehension.
Why alignment helps you
When a home programme follows CAPS, your child practises exactly what their grade expects — and stays in step whether they are in school or learning at home.
Key takeaways
- CAPS is South Africa's national curriculum, Grade R to Grade 3 in the Foundation Phase.
- It sequences reading skills term by term, grade by grade.
- A CAPS-aligned programme keeps home practice on track.
References & further reading
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