Child Care News
Coronavirus: Schools and early learning centres allowed to open at level 2
Stuff - Mandy Te - May 7, 2020Schools and early childhood education centres have been given the green light to reopen at level 2. On Thursday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern provided the framework for schools and early learning services to operate at level 2. With public safety measures in place such as regular hand washing...
Fairies Surprise Children At Waimea Kindy
Scoop - May 7, 2020Teachers at Waimea kindergarten in Nelson had a special surprise for the children returning to kindergarten in Alert Level 3. They created a magical fairy garden in the front entrance, so it was the first thing that tamariki saw when they arrived. “We recognise that after five weeks at home, the children...
Coronavirus: Multimillion-dollar subsidy for childcare centres slammed
Stuff - Susan Edmunds - May 6, 2020Childcare heavyweight BestStart is under scrutiny for the multimillion-dollar wage subsidy it received, despite having millions in the bank. The Wright Family Foundation, which runs BestStart, among others, claimed $26.9 million in subsidies, of which $25m was for the childcare chain...
Coronavirus: Landlord upset childcare centre wants rent break despite Govt funding
Stuff - Susan Edmunds - May 5, 2020Auckland woman Jacquelin White says she can’t understand why the childcare centre that rents her commercial property could not pay rent during the lockdown period. She received a letter from BestStart, which operates 260 centres around the country, on March 26, requesting a rent holiday...
Charter Hall sells 26 New Zealand ECEC centres amidst push to optimise portfolio
The Sector - Jason Roberts - May 5, 2020Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT (CQE) has confirmed the sale and settlement of 26 early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres located in New Zealand in a push to optimise the portfolio to best insulate performance in the current challenging operating environment. The 26 centres...
Taranaki author's 35-year-old story reaches a whole new audience of home learners
Stuff - Brianna McIlraith - May 4, 2020At the age of 93, children's author Barbara Hill has reached a whole new generation with a book she published more than 30 years ago. Night is a Blanket was included in Government packs sent to more than 165,000 children across the country who are learning from home during the Covid-19...
Coronavirus: What schools, ECE will look like under Covid-19 level 2
Stuff - Brittney Deguara - May 2, 2020As we progress through the coronavirus alert levels, schools have had to adapt their ways. In level 4 lockdown all lessons were presented through distance education. The same went for level 3, except for select primary schools, secondary schools and early childhood education (ECE) centres...
Coronavirus: Early childhood centres safe, ready for kids in Northland
Stuff - Denise Piper - April 30, 2020While early childhood centres were initially concerned how they would run under coronavirus alert level three, they are now waiting for children with open arms. A total of 7713 children attended an early childhood education centre on Wednesday, for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown...
Small crowds for early childcare centres reopening under Level 3
TVNZ - April 29, 2020More early learning centres opened today and with only a few children attending, it was a successful start. But other countries warn there may be unexpected challenges ahead. Some kids wouldn't wait to head back to preschool today, while others took a bit of convincing. However their parents are...
On average 5% of children to return to schools and early learning centres under Alert Level 3
TVNZ - Kate Nicol-Williams - April 27, 2020On average, five per cent of children will be returning to schools and early learning centres under Alert Level 3, according to the Education Minister. Education Minister Chris Hipkins said he’s “heartened” by the numbers being reported in surveys of whanau’s intentions during Alert Level 3...
Coronavirus: Dr Siouxsie Wiles says children rarely affected by Covid-19
Stuff - Dr Siouxsie Wiles - April 27, 2020A group of paediatricians from Australia and the UK – Alasdair Munro, Alison Boast, Henry Goldstein, Dani Hall, and Grace Leo – have reviewed all the latest studies about Covid-19 in children. They've made their conclusions available online. They have a great website which you can find...
One third of early childhood centres to remain closed at level 3
RNZ - April 26, 2020One third of ECE centres will remain closed at alert level 3, the Early Childhood Council says. The council said it had surveyed its members and 55% said they would open to support parents returning to work. 33% said they would not open and 12% were still unsure. The centres are allowed to reopen...
Covid 19 coronavirus Level 3 childcare rules: Sandpits closed, parents told to wait in cars
NZ Herald - April 26, 2020Sandpits will stay closed when most childcare centres and schools reopen this week. A constantly changing set of rules for how education will operate in Covid-19 alert level 3 now says that sandpits must stay covered "due to the practical challenges of cleaning this area". Some childcare...
Coronavirus: Children to return to early childhood centres in small numbers
Stuff - George Heagney - April 26, 2020Early childhood education services will keep groups of children to small bubbles as centres reopen this week. Early childhood centres are allowed to operate when New Zealand moves to coronavirus alert level 3 on Tuesday. Only a small percentage of children will attend while the rest ...
Covid 19 coronavirus: Kindergartens will open even if only one child attends
NZ Herald - April 25, 2020Kindergartens will open from Wednesday even if only one child turns up. Bram Kukler, a senior manager for Auckland Kindergarten Association and general manager of the Northern Auckland Kindergarten Association, says five of the 14 northern kindergartens and several of ...
