Child Care News
Pre-schoolers told they're fat when they're not, calls for Govt to scrap BMI testing from Before School Checks
NZ Herald - Emma Russell - November 29, 2019A dietician says New Zealand should dump a children's health check tool that can lead to preschoolers being labelled fat and unhealthy when they might not be. Pegasus Health dietician Lucy Carey criticised the effectiveness of the weight-height Body Mass Index (BMI) test...
Government to lower speed limits around schools, add more speed cameras
Stuff - Kendall Hutt - November 28, 2019One hundred new cameras will be rolled out across high-risk roads to tackle unsafe speeds around the country. Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter announced the additional cameras on Thursday as part of a broader programme to improve safety around schools...
Kindergartens To Give Families A Hand With Extended Hours
Scoop NZ - Media Release - November 27, 2019Heretaunga Kindergarten Association (HFKA), the “profit for purpose” organisation that provides high quality early childhood education across the greater Hastings and Central Hawke’s Bay areas, is offering more choice to families, announcing extended hours at two sites...
Early childhood teacher negotiations paused
SCOOP - Press Release - November 26, 2019Early childhood education (ECE) employers and the union representing ECE teachers have hit pause on their collective agreement negotiations, with both parties agreeing current government funding makes it impossible to reach a fair deal for teachers. They have agreed to jointly meet...
Ministry releases He Māpuna te Tamaiti: Supporting Social and Emotional Competence in Early Learning
Education.govt.nz - November 22, 2019The Ministry has released a new early learning resource to help kaiako support and develop the social and emotional wellbeing of young children. He Māpuna te Tamaiti: Supporting Social and Emotional Competence in Early Learning includes a book, a set of quick tip cards to support kaiako...
Taranaki children's artwork gets its own gallery show
Stuff - Brianna McIlraith - November 22, 2019Abstract canvas paintings of nature created by preschoolers have been on show in a Taranaki art gallery this week. More than 40 students, aged between two and four, from Sophia Preschool had their art displayed at Hall of Design in Oakura as a way to celebrate Universal Children's Day...
Childcare hub dream coming true in Seddon
Marlborough Weekly - Paula Hulbert - November 22, 2019Three years after 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated communities, Seddon residents are edging closer to seeing their dream of a childcare hub come true. Paula Hulburt reports. Its white walls bear fresh cracks, jagged lines fan out across the old church walls. Recent earthquakes in Seddon...
Auckland childcare company now offering 14-hour days
Stuff - Harrison Christian - November 22, 2019An Auckland childcare company says its new 6am-8pm opening hours are in response to parents' changing work habits. Rainbow Corner has extended its hours, now offering to look after children 14 hours a day. Child Forum founder Sarah Alexander criticised the move, saying parents could ...
New Auckland childcare centre to offer extended opening hours, on-site doctor
Newhub - Shannon Redstall - November 21, 2019A new childcare centre in east Auckland will soon be looking after children from 7am to 8pm. The mega-centre will not only offer extended hours but an on-site doctor, physio and pharmacy. The soon-to-open Rainbow Corner in Flat Bush could be a second home for up to 200 preschoolers...
Parents as first teachers support early learning outcomes
Scoop - Press Release, University of Auckland - November 21, 2019New research using information collected from longitudinal child development study Growing Up in New Zealand has identified several factors which are crucial to children’s early learning outcomes. The research found that shared book reading and parents teaching early literacy and numeracy...
Whakatāne early childhood centre wins dental challenge
Bay of Plenty Times - November 19, 2019A Whakatāne early childhood centre has been flashing its pearly whites after taking first place in an annual oral health challenge. Early childhood education centres across the Eastern Bay were invited to take part in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board's annual World Oral Health Day...
Pay parity, equity issues underlined at ECE rally
The Gisborne Herald - November 18, 2019Children are being shortchanged by government underfunding . . . that was the central message of an early childhood education rally on Saturday. A teacher shortage, class sizes and pay parity due to underfunding and under-resourcing were issues underlined by more than 40 teachers...
Discoveries Educare teacher censured for growing cannabis in 2013
NZ Herald - Simon Collins - November 18, 2019A West Auckland childcare teacher has been censured for growing cannabis six years ago and not disclosing it to the Teaching Council. Lianne Kem, a teacher at Discoveries Educare in Henderson, was convicted and discharged in the District Court in 2013 on a charge of cultivating cannabis...
Durie Hill Kindergarten's colour chaos fun walk raised funds for upcoming projects
NZ Herald - Lucy Drake, Whanganui Chronicle - November 18, 2019Whanganui families went crazy for colour as they spent a Sunday afternoon walking around Virginia Lake. Organised by Durie Hill Kindergarten, the colour chaos fun walk fundraiser was a big success. One hundred and fifty people of all ages came out to meet at the punch bowl...
Overwhelmed charities say child poverty in NZ as high as ever
Stuff - Cate Broughton - November 17, 2019KidsCan, which supports children in low-decile schools by providing food and other basic needs, had also seen continued high demand for its support, chief executive and founder Julie Chapman said. In the past five years the number of schools supported has almost doubled, from 388 to 740...
