ECE
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
Audio
Some doubt govt's childcare boost will get into parents' pocket
The government's touted its $189 million boost to childcare subsidies as a way to get more parents into full-time work, and to fill labour shortages. But some parents are dubious it's worth a return… Audio
Auckland early childhood centres grapple with step 1, level 3
The first phase of the Auckland's journey back to level 2 means early learning centres are back.
They can now accept the children of non-essential workers but they have to operate with bubbles of 10.
…Govt spends $170m on pay parity for thousands of ECE teachers
The Government has announced a pay parity plan for some early childhood teachers worth $170 million. In a pre-Budget announcement this morning, the Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the government… Audio
ECE teachers critical of centres in national survey
Early childhood teachers have complained of stress and overcrowding in a national survey.
Four thousand teachers responded to the Child Forum survey and a quarter said they would not send their own… Audio
Labour announces its education policy
Labour is promising to extend pay parity for all early childhood teachers if re-elected, but would scrap plans to extend its fees free policy beyond the first year of tertiary study..
Chris Hipkins… Audio
Childcare centres prepare to reopen
We speak to Jenny Le Noel is the manager of Growing Minds childcare centre in Auckland's Unsworth Heights. Audio
ECE teachers push for fair pay with rockin' campaign
Early Childhood Teachers are the rock stars of our communities. That's the message at the core of a new video advocating for fair pay for early childhood educators. Video, Audio
Early childhood teachers' pay talks paused
Early childhood teachers' pay talks have been put on hold because both the employer and the teachers' union say current government funding makes reaching a fair deal impossible. Part way through… Audio
Daycare hours
An Auckland daycare centre has taken a child off its roll because his parents wouldn't send him for the minimum 7 hours a day.The Mighty Minds Educare in Penrose seems worried about how the paperwork… Audio
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
Early childhood centres bursting at the seams
Public health expert Mike Bedford says overcrowding stemming from financial pressure on parents, as well as out-dated minimum standards, are turning early childhood centres into childminding services.
…Transitioning your child to day care
Starting daycare can be a daunting and emotional time for children, and their parents. How can you prepare yourself and your child? How much crying is normal? Early childcare education teacher Heather… Audio
Preschoolers urgently need funding - industry
The government's been told that preschoolers can't wait four years for funding that is urgently needed now. Teachers, parents and early childhood centres are applauding the move that gives the sector… Audio
Early childhood teachers suffering
A new survey has found early childhood teachers deal with biting, kicks and back injuriesd as well as stress. Of the 900 teahcers surveyed, 46 percent of them reported problems. We ask the panelists… Audio
Ministry upholds 163 complaints against ECE centres
The Education Ministry upheld 163 complaints against early childhood centres in 2016. Dr Sarah Alexander says it is likely more problems are going unnoticed. Audio
Government to rein in private early childhood sector
There are strong signs the government is preparing to rein-in profit-making companies that run early childhood centres. Its plans for raising quality in the sector talk about turning the tide away… Audio
Pasifika ECE services struggling for fluent teachers
English-language rules are strangling the supply of early childhood teachers who speak Pasifika languages, threatening the future of Pasifika early childhood centres. Sector leaders say people who… Audio
Early childhood centres unsafe - teachers
Teachers warn that some early childhood services are under-cutting minimum staffing levels and children's needs are being neglected. They say the centres' staffing levels look fine on paper, but the… Audio
ECE centres serving unhealthy food, study finds
Research shows few early childhood services that serve daily meals are meeting nutrition guidelines and half are regularly serving children unhealthy food like cakes and chips. Audio