Child Care News
Quake hit community's $1.8 million bid for child care hub
Stuff NZ - Paula Hulburt - December 13, 2018A quake hit community has launched a bid to raise $1.8 million to build a combined childcare hub - one that can be insured. Three child care services in Seddon, Marlborough have ploughed funds into making earthquake damaged buildings safe enough to use...
Early Childhood Council presents petition to Parliament
Scoop NZ - December 12, 2018The Early Childhood Council today delivered a petition to Parliament seeking scrutiny of the way the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is applied to Pasifika early childhood education teachers. The paper signature petition with 759 signatures collected...
Mental health initiative in Tauranga schools earns favourable mention in report
NZ Herald - Scott Yeoman - December 9, 2018A new mental health initiative in Tauranga schools and early childhood centres has earned a favourable mention in a wide-ranging report into New Zealand's mental health system. For the past year, Ōtūmoetai's Kāhui Ako Communities of Learning network has been piloting a wellbeing...
The double juggle: how working parents manage school holidays and their jobs
The Conversation - Candice Harris and Jarrod Haar - December 7, 2018Our research explores the responses to school holidays by corporate mothers based in New Zealand. We examined how holidays present a form of conflict for working mothers and the mothers' perceptions of organisational support around managing the holiday period...
Early Childhood Education Sunsmartest
Scoop NZ - December 6, 2018Teacher feedback suggested that not all New Zealanders know that sunscreen is best applied 20 mins before going into the sun, and that ALL tamariki need protection, no matter the colour of their skin. Amanda Dodd, Deputy Manager Health Promotion for the Canterbury West...
Projects to improve outcomes for learners share $1.4M funds
The Scoop - December 5, 2018The Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) supports partnerships between researchers and educators by funding projects expected to improve outcomes for learners. This year's funding of over $1.4 million has been allocated to six projects, one in the early childhood...
Attracting ECE teachers back into the industry vital
Scoop NZ - November 28, 2018In the midst of an extreme Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher shortage, New Zealand's largest in-home childcare provider, PORSE, has an 'earn and learn' solution it expects will attract teachers who have exited the profession, back to the industry. The Early Childhood Council...
Northland pre-schoolers and teens to get free meningococcal vaccine
NZ Herald - Lindy Laird - November 27, 2018A meningococcal vaccine will be rolled out in Northland to combat an outbreak that has seen the region hardest hit by a virulent new strain. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Health David Clark announced yesterday the seven cases, with three deaths...
Opinion: More imposts on the struggling early childhood sector
Newshub NZ - Simon Davies - November 23, 2018In our case it means a 26 km round trip to the nearest centre, twice a day. We started both our girls before they were aged 3 so have been paying full costs. The costs I can Iive with; not having the option of early learning education I cannot. Therefore I was dismayed to hear...
WM Kindergartens welcomes plan to improve early learning
Press Release: Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated - November 20, 2018He Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens, which operates 86 kindergartens in the Lower North Island as well as three home-based networks, welcomes the government's plan to strengthen the quality and raise the funding of early childhood education. He taonga te tamati - every child...
Early learning strategic plan ambitious
Press Release: Early Childhood Council - November 20, 2018The Early Childhood Council (ECC) says the draft Strategic Plan for early learning sets ambitious goals to achieve in a decade, given the fact we have a significant teacher shortage in New Zealand currently. The ECC welcomes the release for consultation of the draft...
Higher childcare fees and centre closures tipped as controls tighten
NZ Herald - Simon Collins - November 19, 2018A new plan to tighten quality controls on childcare centres may force some centres to raise fees and others to close. Education Minister Chris Hipkins has told Cabinet that increased monitoring, including unannounced inspections of childcare centres, "may result in a reduction...
Government outlines plan for early childhood learning
Stuff NZ - November 18, 2018The Government has outlined its ambition to reduce teacher-to-child ratios and address pay disparities in the early childhood sector. Education Minister Chris Hipkins launched the draft strategic plan for early learning on Monday at Knox Church Playgroup in Lower Hutt which set out the vision for early education over the next 10 yearss. He said early childhood education was an important factor in setting up children for later in life...
A new 10-year early learning strategic plan aims to shake up New Zealand's early-learning sector
NZ Herald - Derek Cheng & Jason Walls - November 19, 2018Increasing teacher salaries and conditions, more adults for every baby and toddler, and moving towards 100 per cent qualified teachers are at the centre of the Government's plan for early learning. Education Minister Chris Hipkins today launched the draft strategic plan for...
Auckland dairy-free ice cream company Wahiki Creamery inks deal with Asia's biggest childcare centre
NZ Herald - Aimee Shaw - November 19, 2018An Auckland company which uses coconuts instead of milk to make its ice cream has signed a deal to supply Asia's biggest childcare centre with its sweet treat. Wahiki Creamery has so far sold 6500 tubs of its dairy-free ice cream to Cathay Future, which owns and operates...
