Child Care News
Thames childcare centre under investigation, Ministry of Education suspends license
Stuff NZ - Jake McKee Cagney - August 20, 2018A Thames childcare centre is under investigation after complaints about about teaching practice and health and safety. Sealey Street Childcare, in Thames, had its license suspended by the Ministry of Education on July 20. Ministry of Education enablement and support acting deputy...
Last year only 324 men took parental leave, and it's an issue
Stuff NZ - Miranda Burdon - August 19, 2018Many people in New Zealand will be proud that we are once again leading the world in terms of social progress and women's leadership. But the reality is, we are not there yet. In New Zealand, just 324 men took parental leave last year versus more than 30,000 women. In fact...
Early Childhood Educators are not 'glorified babysitters'
Stuff NZ - August 15, 2018In the absence of stay at home parents, helping young children develop essential skills falls on the shoulders of Early Childhood Educators (ECE). A child develops 85 per cent of their learning capacity in the first five years of life, so it seems strange to me that the Government doesn't...
Hundreds of school and early childhood support workers to get pay rise of 30 per cent under pay equity agreement
News Now - August 14, 2018The settlement would see the minimum rate boosted to $21.67 and the top rate as $24.73 for workers with four to nine years' experience and $25.70 for those with ten years or more. Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the settlement was "about making sure that women get a fair deal...
Historic pay rise for support workers in education
NZ Herald - Chelsea Boyle - August 15, 2018Hundreds of women working in education are set to get a pay rise of up to 30 per cent in a historic settlement for pay equity. The New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) and the Ministry of Education today signed Terms of Settlement to address a pay equity claim for 329 support...
Parents tasked with finding alternative childcare options as strike day looms
NZ Herald - Astrid Austin - August 14, 2018With teachers taking strike action tomorrow, parents are having to find alternative childcare options. Family First New Zealand said while they understand the concerns regarding teacher recruitment, retention and appropriate pay rates and workplace conditions...
Teachers' strike sees parents scrambling for child care
Stuff NZ - Jo Lines-Mackenzie - August 13, 2018Teachers are demanding more time to teach, lead, and support students with additional needs, as well as a pay increase. Dean is thankful they've had time to make other arrangements but is aware it had a roll-on effect for those around her. It is easier for Dean's mum, who works...
Preschool teachers seeking public support for pay pledge
Stuff NZ - Paula Hulburt - August 9, 2018Early childhood teachers and teaching support staff in Marlborough have called for an end to a six year pay freeze. The Blenheim-based initiative is part of a national campaign by the New Zealand Educational Institute Riu Roa (NZEI), the largest education trade union in New Zealand...
Auckland daycare teacher must pay $31,000 after mistreatment of children and staff
NZ Herald - Vaimoana Tapaleao - August 6, 2018An Auckland childcare teacher has been deregistered and ordered to pay $31,000 in costs after her "rough physical treatment" of children and staff alike amounted to serious misconduct. Natasha Joy Ashton, of Manukau, had been working at The Children''s Corner Papatoetoe...
After-school services step up to provide cover as teachers' strike looks set to go ahead
NZ Herald - Simon Collins - August 6, 2018After-school services are stepping up to provide full-day cover as a teachers' strike looks set to go ahead next week. School Trustees Association executive member Jocelyn Tauevihi said all except one East Auckland schools operating Safe Kids In Daily Supervision (SKIDS)...
Deborah Hill Cone: Stop dumping kids in 'factory farms'
NZ Herald - Deborah Hill Cone - August 6, 2018Little children, babies even, are farmed out to for-profit childcare centres, sometimes for 10 hours a day, because their parents have to go back to work, to become productive economic units. Is this process "good enough"? I don't think so. I suspect we don't want to examine too...
Outdated practice puts spotlight on early childhood industry
NZ Herald - Craig Cooper - August 4, 2018It doesn't seem that long ago, that we didn't have qualified teachers working in early childhood. Playcentres or kindies were as much the social hub of communities, as they were a place for pre-school children to "learn". But much has changed. We now have early childhood...
Graduate child care teacher held children down to force them to sleep
Kidspot - Leesa Smith - August 2, 2018Laura Hope Tregurtha's reasoning for her inappropriate actions towards the young children in her care was that she was an inexperienced graduate teacher. But this defence didn't fly with the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal in New Zealand on Tuesday and the teacher, at Havelock North...
Closures, childcare decisions during August 15 strike up to individual school boards
NZ Herald - August 1, 2018Decisions about school closures and childcare support during the teacher and principals strike will be up to each individual board. The 50,000-strong principal and teachers union NZEI Te Riu Roa has voted to extend a planned three-hour strike on August 15 to a full day...
Mum charged $55 for picking up her child from daycare one minute late
Stuff NZ - Cecile Meier - July 31, 2018No parent wants their kids to be the last waiting to be picked up at daycare. But on top of the shame and guilt that come with turning up late, some parents also face hefty penalty fees. One mum posted on a Facebook group about having to pay $55 for one minute of lateness...
