Meaningful access to education requires more than full enrolment; it requires high attendance rates, progression through grades with little or no repetition, and learning outcomes that confirm that basic skills are being mastered. This Review describes and explains patterns of access to schools in South Africa for children between the ages of 5 and 15 years. It outlines policy and legislation on access to education and provides a statistical analysis of learners enrolled in school, out-of-school children and learners vulnerable to exclusion. The quantitative data is supported by a review of research which explains the patterns of access and exclusion. The Review also analyses the way in which educational access is conceptualised, and identifies areas for future research. (Contains 22 tables, 18 figures, and 6 footnotes.)