This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme on grade one performance in Mzilikazi District in Bulawayo. Papalia, Olds and Feldman (2001) observed that children who have been through ECD programmes generally excelled in basic academic skills while Smith (1994) suggested that ineffective ECD programmes led to fragmented and wide variation in the quality of early primary school education. The study was quantitative in nature and used a

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... -sectional survey and the ex-post facto research designs. Two independent samples of 100 grade one children each, 20 grade one teachers and 10 administrators participated in the study. Mathematics and English Language selfdesigned tests were used with the children while structured questionnaires were used with teachers and administrators. Data were presented on tables and analysed using the Likert Scale, descriptive and inferential statistics. Indications from qualitative data were that the ECD programme was not effective on grade one performance in both subjects. A t-test of independent means confirmed that, there was no difference in performance in Mathematics between grade one children who underwent the ECD programme and those who did not. However, in English Language the t-test indicated a significant difference in performance between the two groups. On these bases, the research concluded that the ECD programme in Mzilikazi District was not effective on grade one performance in Mathematics but was effective on English Language performance. The study then recommended increased financial, material, human resource and infrastructural support of the ECD programme and review of the ECD curriculum