ECE - snakes among the ladders

The government’s own ECE taskforce has recommended quality early childhood education as the best investment in our communities. Many of the taskforce’s recommendations mirror what NZEI members have been saying for years. But there are snakes in the mix too.

Ladders

Report confirms profession’s view that ECE is the best investment a government can make.

Recommends a return to 100% qualified teachers.

Backs NZEI’s calls for better quality – smaller groups, lower ratios.

Better access for Maori, Pasifika, special needs kids and kids from poor homes.

Proposes a trial for its new “targeted” funding model.


Snakes

Taskforce fails to consult the profession, limited consultation on implementation.

Cuts to the universal “20 hours” policy, many families to pay more.

Lower wages through “market” pay rates, undermining the report’s own call for better quality.

Greater “accountability” may narrow the curriculum.

Teachers may have to means-test families.



WHAT THEY SAID

“The report’s strong advocacy for high quality ECE services is welcome. It backs up the considerable research evidence available on the benefits of high quality ECE for children, families and whanau, and for society in the long term.” Clare Wells, Chief Executive of NZ Kindergartens.

“This document is likely to pave the way for the future of early childhood education in New Zealand for some time to come,” says Hayley Whitaker, NZEI national executive member.

“You can’t get good quality teaching on minimum wages, and quality education cannot be delivered in an environment where staff are poorly paid, stressed and overworked,” says NZEI National Secretary Paul Goulter.

“Any proposals for major changes to ECE will form part of the election campaign,” Education Minister Anne Tolley.

“Targeted approaches rely on costly and time-consuming administrative processes that can stigmatise eligible families, deterring applications,” five academics from Victoria, Waikato, Canterbury and Otago universities.

"If you want high quality early childhood, teachers have to be paid well, and if there's a lot of Government money going into services, it's important that that gets passed on to its teachers, that it goes where it's going to make a difference to children." Nancy Bell, Childcare Association chief executive.

Home-based organisations should be given time to get their house in order, but the work needs to start soon, taskforce chair Dr Michael Mintrom.

“The way the report is framed may hide a significant player in the New Zealand ECE sector, which is of high standard, which has served children and families well for 70 years, and which has a strong future – [Playcentre].” Maureen Woodhams, NZ Playcentre Federation