26 Apr 2020

One third of early childhood centres to remain closed at level 3

8:09 am on 26 April 2020

One third of ECE centres will remain closed at alert level 3, the Early Childhood Council says.

Empty classroom chairs and desks (kindergarten primary).

Photo: 123RF

The council said it had surveyed its members and 55 percent said they would open to support parents returning to work.

Thirty-three percent said they would not open and 12 percent were still unsure.

Along with schools, the centres are allowed to reopen on Tuesday for children who cannot learn from home.

The council's chief executive Peter Reynolds said early childhood centres would be very different places from normal this week.

"No one's done this before - centres are doing all they can to provide a safe environment for children and help prevent Covid-19 coming in through the door," Reynolds said.

The council said 83 percent of members surveyed said they had all the information they needed, or were confident it would come, while 74 percent said they were feeling nervous, concerned or 'only okay' about opening.

Read more about the Covid-19 coronavirus:

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs