Early Childhood Education
Seymour is the grand ruler of cutting red tape
A sector that's had rules piled upon it is welcoming moves to cut the red tape
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Govt sending nearly a million RATs to schools, ECEs
Families will soon be able to get rapid antigen tests from schools and early childhood centres.
The government is providing nearly a million RAT kits in a bid to keep education going as the Omicron… Audio
New book examines how childhood shapes later life
In his new book, The Origins of You: How Childhood Shapes Later Life, University of Otago professor Richie Poulton and his co-authors set out to determine to what extent our origins shape our later… Audio
Preschool teachers stop work to call for equal pay.
Early-childhood teachers are calling for government intervention to secure pay parity with other preschool teachers.
Early childhood teacher shortage bites
Parents may end up footing a higher bill for childcare as a shortage of teachers in the sector stretches on. Some centres are forking out nearly double the average hourly wage on relief teachers… Audio
Fainting preschoolers spur KidsCan initiative
Children fainting at preschool and kindergarten has been the catalyst for the charity, KidsCan, to launch a nationwide programme to provide another 1000 kids with fresh meals and clothing.
MPs wish-list for ECE
The Education Minister Chris Hipkins has a big new plan for early childhood education. It'll cost $350m a year for 10 years and includes more and better qualified teachers, the proportion of… Audio
Govt crackdown on home-based early childhood education
The government is cracking down on home-based early childhood education, citing doubts about quality and concern over some companies' financial arrangements. It is proposing mandatory qualifications… Audio
Unpaid hours for early childhood teachers 'appalling'
The controversy of employees not being paid for extra work has reached the early childhood sector with teachers 'scared' to challenge the common practice.
Govt unveils funding boost for early childhood sector
Thousands of preschoolers with learning and behaviour problems are set to get extra support before they start school under a new funding increase unveiled today.
What's the hurry? Five-year-olds not in rush for school
More children than ever are staying on at pre-school after they've turned five, Ministry of Education data shows.
What's the hurry? 5-year-olds not in rush for school
More children than ever are staying on at pre-school after they've turned five. Last year two and a half thousand five year olds were enrolled at early childhood education centres. That's 500 more… Audio
Insight: Dangerous Daycares
Childcare is booming, but cracks are starting to show. John Gerritsen talks to teachers about how tight funding and corner-cutting is making some centres dangerous for children. Video, Audio
Kindergarten kids earn more in later life - study
People who went to playcentre or kindergarten more than 35 years ago are earning more than those who did not, new research shows.
Let them eat healthier, parents say
Parental pressure is stopping early childhood centres from providing cake at children's birthdays, teachers say.
'Special occasion' food a regular event at childcare centres
Half of the early childhood services surveyed for a new report were regularly serving children unhealthy food like cakes and chips.
Budget unfair and dismal for ECE sector
Early childhood educators say the budget is unacceptable and doesn't cater for a growing number of enrolments. Audio
Banning Unvaccinated Kids
Australia is considering banning unvaccinated kids from early childcare centres and preschools. Some Australian states already have "no jab, no play" laws, but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has… Audio
Radical shake-up for Auckland kindies
Auckland kindergartens will open for longer hours and over school holidays to make childcare available to more people.
Think what early childhood education is worth, govt urged
Early childhood groups are urging the government to rethink what their sector is worth.