I am Ready!

Accelerated intensive pre-primary programme

This brief introduces our accelerated intensive pre-primary education model.

Anna, 5, and her friends play with colourful building blocks — Five-year-old Anna is busy playing with her friends at her pre-school centre in Laos. Image credit: Plan International.

Delivering quality early childhood education (ECE) is one of the most critical and cost-effective investments a country can make. Investments in early childhood education not only prepare young children to succeed in school and in life but also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of education systems and is a foundational investment in the promotion of gender equality and inclusion. Yet despite global commitments to universalize access to pre-primary education (PPE) by 2030, progress has been slow and uneven, with half of the world’s children still lacking access to any form of PPE.

I am Ready! is an innovative, accelerated pre-primary education model that aims to build the school readiness of disadvantaged children without access to early childhood education to better prepare them for school entry and successful learning. It is delivered in 8-12 weeks prior to primary school entry. It supports holistic child development by focusing on physical, cognitive, language, and socio-emotional skills through play-based activities, healthy habits, and parent engagement.

The model has significantly improved school readiness and on-time enrollment in countries such Lao PDR, Cambodia, Tanzania, and Turkey with Syrian refugees. I am Ready! represents a scalable solution to achieving global education goals and promoting equity for marginalised children.