Child Care News
Shifting tectonic plates of key discourses in New Zealand early childhood education policy (1989-2017): A critical discourse analysis at the dawn of change
University of Waikato - Fiona Westbrook - September 18, 2018This thesis analysed the presence of neoliberalism, socialism and te Ao Māori in fundamental policy documents that frame New Zealand early childhood practice. It did so to critically engage with, and thus make sense of, neoliberalism's application and potential growth...
Neighbours slam plans for childcare centre on 'rabbit warren' road
Stuff NZ - Tarannum Shaikh - September 16, 2018Residents of a narrow cul-de-sac in east Auckland are bracing themselves for a daily influx of up to 70 cars. The group of neighbours are fighting a proposal to build a new childcare centre at the end of their brick-paved, quiet road in East Tamaki. The Piccolo Park childcare centre...
Preschool children exposed to asbestos for two months after construction work
Stuff NZ - Damian George - September 21, 2018Children at a Wellington preschool were unknowingly exposed to asbestos for two months after a construction company replacing panels failed to take proper safety precautions. Parents of children at Wellington's Capital Montessori, in Kingston, received an email from the...
Christchurch preschool teacher denies 18 sex abuse charges
NewsHub - September 13, 2018A Christchurch preschool teacher has denied 18 child sex abuse charges. In the Christchurch District Court on Thursday, he was charged with indecently assaulting and sexually violating another alleged victim between 2013 and 2018. He is currently not working, but is facing charges...
Ministry of Education officials probe claims Palmerston North centre misspent public money
Stuff NZ - Jimmy Ellingham - September 11, 2018A Palmerston North early childhood education centre is under investigation about how it spends public money meant to support Pacific children's learning. Malamalama Moni A'oga Amata EFKS is in the spotlight of Ministry of Education officials for the way it uses "Pasifika Power...
A predator revealed: Childcare centre staff member molested girl in his care
Stuff NZ - Mike Mather - September 7, 2018A staff member at a Hamilton childcare facility was caught by a colleague in the act of molesting a young girl he was supposed to be looking after. Gregory William Van de Worp, 34, was sentenced to 16 months and two weeks in prison when he appeared in the Hamilton...
Tighter regulations must not take passion out of in-home child care, says educator
Stuff NZ - Alice Angeloni - September 6, 2018When Angela Eaton takes a holiday, she doesn't get paid, when the child she looks after takes a holiday, she doesn't get paid. She has been an in-home educator for 10 years and says it's about time the fast-growing home-based child care sector was reviewed. Eaton runs Step 2 Growth...
Ministry of Education cancels Thames childcare centre's licence for breaches of practice
Stuff NZ - Jake McKee Cagney - September 5, 2018The Ministry of Education has cancelled a Thames childcare centre's licence following an investigation into multiple complaints including allegations of children being shut in a back room, having food withheld from them as punishment or being force-fed. Sealey Street Childcare...
New player in childcare centres seeks $5.5m from investors for developments
Stuff NZ - September 5, 2018New player in the childcare centre property sector, Property Managers Group, hopes to build three centres a year and is seeking funds from experienced investors for more development. The well-established Tauranga company launched PMG Direct Childcare Fund in 2017 to diversify...
Inclusion must begin with early education
Scoop NZ - September 3, 2018IHC is calling on the Government to work more closely with the early childhood sector so that young children with disabilities aren't waiting months for specialist help. Startling new statistics from the Ministry of Education, as reported by RNZ, reveal pre-schoolers with disabilities...
'Jaw-dropping' delays for special education
Radio NZ - John Gerritsen - September 3, 2018Delays in specialist support for children with disabilities under five in the Wellington region are "ridiculous", parents and teachers say. They said pre-schoolers with special needs were waiting six or eight months for help, and many were nearly ready for school by the time...
Helping East Coast early learning services and schools
Scoop NZ - September 3, 2018More than 250 early learning services and schools in tsunami evacuation zones along the East Coast are being encouraged to regularly practice tsunami evacuation drills as part of the 'Tsunami Safer Early Learning Services & Schools' project recently completed...
Pre-schoolers with disabilities face long waits for specialist help
Radio NZ - John Gerritsen - September 3, 2018Pre-schoolers with disabilities are waiting longer than ever for specialist help after wait times for assistance increased in every region to an average of more than three months, Education Ministry figures show. The delay averaged 99 days in 2017-18, up from 72 days in 2016-17...
Why am I paying for childcare?
Stuff NZ - Michelle Duff - August 31, 2018OPINION: If I hear one more rant about whether kids should go to daycare or stay at home, I swear, I'll throw my toys. If I see one more debate rage over the benefits of kindies vs for-profit childcare, the entire Paw Patrol fleet is gone. Out. The train set, too. What's that you hear...
Parents Centre New Zealand announce continued partnership
Scoop NZ - August 29, 2018Parents Centre New Zealand announce continued partnership with PORSE In-Home Childcare. Parents Centre New Zealand, the primary provider of antenatal and parent education in New Zealand, are excited to announce the continued partnership with PORSE In-Home Childcare...
