The Department of Early Childhood Education (ECE) was established in 2001 following the merger of the former Onderwyskollege Pretoria (OKP) with the University of Pretoria. Ms Nkidi Phatudi was appointed in 2003 as the inaugural Head of Department, tasked with leading a team of five lecturers and ensuring alignment of departmental activities with both local and international contexts. The relationship between Onderwyskollege Pretoria and the University of Pretoria dates back to the 1980s. With the introduction of the B Prim Ed degree, a collaborative agreement was reached whereby the University would oversee the academic programmes, while the College would be responsible for professional qualifications, including diplomas, certificates, and practical teaching components. Staff members from the College’s Pre-primary and Foundation Phases became actively involved in the training of university students. In 1980, enrolment in the B Prim Ed degree included 23 female and 9 male students, the majority of whom chose to specialise in Early Childhood Development (ECD). The final cohort of B Prim Ed students completed their studies in 2003, following the introduction of the new BEd ECD/Foundation Phase degree in 2001.

In 2006, revisions were made to the programme to introduce elective options. Subsequently, in 2009, the BEd Foundation Phase programme underwent a comprehensive redesign and restructuring under the leadership of Deputy Dean Professor Anna Naidoo. By 2013, the programme had been aligned with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) and the Minimum Requirements for Teacher Qualifications (MRTEQ), and was submitted for approval and accreditation to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Council for Higher Education (CHE). While the Department initially focused solely on undergraduate studies, it has, since 2009, expanded its offerings to include the BEd Honours in Learning Support, as well as master’s and doctoral degree programmes.

The Department of ECE currently comprises eight permanent lecturers and five part-time lecturers. Professor Cycil Hartell served as Head of Department from 2009, followed by Professor Ina Joubert, who held the position from 2016 until her early retirement in 2018. In 2020, Professor Azwihangwisi Muthivhi was appointed as Head of Department.

All academic staff within the Department hold tertiary qualifications and possess specialised interests relevant to the field of Early Childhood Education. Through their pursuit of postgraduate qualifications at master's and doctoral levels, staff members exhibit a strong commitment to continued professional development and academic excellence.

Professor Ruth Mampane is the current Head of the Department.