This study sought strategies to improve teachers’ professional curriculum practices in a Grade R mathematics class. A phenomenological research design was employed to generate data for the study using a sample of fifteen participants. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect the data for the study. In this regard, the interview guide was properly validated, and trial tested. Data collected for this study were analysed using a thematic analysis. The findings of the study showed that the strategies for improving teachers’ professional curriculum practice in a Grade R mathematics class include employing adequately qualified Grade R teachers; aking available teaching and learning resources;ncouraging sufficient parental involvement; encouraging support by authorities; and, using adequate language for teaching and learning. It was therefore concluded that for Grade R teachers to engage learners in Professional Curriculum Practices (PCP), they need to have access to teacher development programmes. This finding implicates physics teaching in the sense that proficiency in mathematics teaching is imperative for physics teaching. Thus, a practical approach to mathematics teaching can as well be deployed in the teaching of physics concepts due to the abstract nature of the subjects (Mathematics and Physics). In order words these identified strategies for mathematics teaching can be used for physics teaching at a higher education level. Thus, it was recommended that the integrated teacher development programme should be implemented to enable teachers to be fully engaged in Grade R mathematics classes.   Keywords: Improvement, Strategies, Teachers’ Professional Curriculum Practice, Grade R Mathematics.

This research explored the challenges impeding practitioners’ proper implementation of mathematical play practice environment using a qualitative phenomenological research approach. This study was conducted in Motheo District which is in Mangaung Municipality in the Free State with ten females who had obtained matric certificate qualification at least have three years’ experience working in the ECCE setting as the sample. This sample was purposively chosen for this research. A structured interview guide was used as tool for data collection and its trustworthiness was properly ensured. After the data had been collected, the real processing, analysis, and interpretation of the data took place. We conducted a thematic analysis of the data. With the help of this technique, we were able to analyze the unstructured interview responses and find trends and themes. It was found that the challenges impeding practitioners’ proper mathematical play practice environment are constraints to proper mathematical play in relation to indoor and outdoor resources and infrastructure; constraints emanating from practitioners’ qualifications and constraints relating to support expected from the DSD and DBE, as custodians of ECCE. This finding has practical and policy implications in the sense that the practitioners cannot effectively implement mathematical play practice environment in the presence of the identified challenges unless adequate policy framework is designed to take care of such challenges. Thus, it is recommended that the appropriate authority should design an implementable policy guideline on the use of mathematical play practice environment.