11 Mar 2011

Early childhood sector faults lack of consultation

7:10 pm on 11 March 2011

Early childhood leaders say they're unhappy with the way the Government is making policy and funding changes.

This week they got news of the latest change - an increase in the number of children permitted on each early-childhood centre licence - by accident.

Childcare Association chief executive Nancy Bell says that was not the first time, and it is not good enough.

Ms Bell and other sector leaders say there should have been consultation, even though it was an election policy for the National Party.

They say there has been too little consultation and no formal announcement of other changes.

They argue that even if the Government has flagged a change, it should consult in order to avoid unintended consequences.

But the Government says it is consulting widely, through its new early-childhood education taskforce.