Child Care News
Researchers uncover that sense of belonging comes through early childhood education
The Sector - Freya Lucas - November 15, 2019Two major New Zealand studies have placed immigrant and refugee children at the centre of the resettlement process in the country, researching how early childhood education can help refugees find a sense of belonging in Aotearoa, and sustain a sense of belonging in home countries...
Early Childcare Education needs action, not debate – Early Childhood Council
The Daily Blog - November 15, 2019The Early Childhood Council is calling on the government to not take their eye off the ball while working on the future of education. “With an Early Childcare Education teacher shortage and widening pay disparity facing our sector today, it’s time for action, not words. You can’t ...
National to focus on quality early childhood education
Scoop NZ - Press Release: New Zealand National Party - November 13, 2019National is focused on lifting the quality of early childhood education, National’s Early Childhood Education spokesperson Nicola Willis says. “It’s important our children receive quality education in their early years as this sets them up for primary school onwards...
Early childhood teachers call for improved pay and work conditions
Stuff - George Heagney - November 12, 2019Early childhood teachers are demanding improved conditions in the sector. The New Zealand Educational Institute union has launched a campaign to fix what it calls a pay gap in early childhood education. Primary, secondary and kindergarten teachers have all reached collective...
Biggest overhaul of school system in 30 years
Stuff - Henry Cooke - November 12, 2019The Government is undertaking the biggest overhaul of the education system in 30 years, dramatically reducing the amount of independent power schools have to govern. While it has backed away from an earlier proposal to transfer most power from boards of trustees to regional hubs...
A brand-new, fully furnished Napier childcare centre is seemingly abandoned. Why?
NZ Herald - Blair Voorend, Hawkes Bay TodayIt's a brand new fully furnished commercial building in a high-profile Napier site: there's just one problem - it's abandoned. At the bottom of Chaucer Rd South sits a brand new shipping container-style modular building seemingly set up as a childcare centre. It's worth roughly $2 million...
'Stressed' Hawke's Bay early childhood teachers plead with Government for pay fairness, better conditions
NZ Herald - November 8, 2019Early childhood education teachers in Hawke's Bay say the region is staring down the barrel of a "chronic shortage" of qualified staff. They are part of a nationwide campaign launched by the NZEI teachers union in Napier...
Hipkins promises early childhood sector support is on way - next year
Stuff - Henry Cooke - November 8, 2019An increasingly frustrated early childhood sector has been promised more support. Education Minister Chris Hipkins was handed a petition with more than 8000 signatures in Wellington on Monday from early childhood teachers calling on the Government to fulfil promises it made...
Early childhood teachers deserve more cash - and kudos
Stuff - November 8, 2019EDITORIAL: A teacher in an early childhood centre, after three years' study, can be paid as little as half as much as essentially the same person, with the same qualification, teaching children barely a few weeks and months older at a primary school. That's the reality for many in the ECE sector...
South Canterbury kindergartens to stay open over term breaks from 2020
Stuff - Esther Ashby-Coventry - November 7, 2019News that South Canterbury kindergartens are no longer closing for term breaks from next year has been greeted with enthusiasm from parents and teachers. South Canterbury Kindergarten Association general manager Dave Hawkey said the decision was made to meet the demand...
Early childhood education: We're not just nice ladies who look after babies
Stuff - Cat Kennedy - November 5, 2019OPINION: I have the same student loan as a kindergarten or primary teacher, so why am I not valued the same? This week my colleagues and I will hand out flyers to the families at our centre, encouraging them to support our call for an immediate pay increase for early childhood teachers...
Education Minister says closing pay gap for early childhood teachers 'may take some time'
TVNZ - November 5, 2019As early childhood teachers undertake a week of action over pay disparity with their other colleagues in the primary and secondary sector, the Education Minister has reassured them that the Government intends to address the issue. Chris Hipkins told TVNZ1’s Breakfast the Government...
Taranaki early childhood educators ask Government to hear their voice
Stuff - Christina Persico - November 5, 2019Early childhood is something of the forgotten cousin when it comes to the teacher pay debate, an education representative has said. Primary teachers and principals have been crying out for better conditions, and early childhood educators are now gathering to make their voices heard...
Evolve Education nets five childcare centres
The Market Herald - Fraser Palamara - November 4, 2019Evolve Education has spent $7.65 million as part of a new deal to add five Queensland and Victoria childcare centres to its roster. The centres join the company's major existing presence in Melbourne, as part of a total 128 centres in Australia and New Zealand...
Ex G8 boss on march in childcare with Evolve
Australian Financial Review - Simon Evans - November 4, 2019The dual-listed childcare group Evolve Education now headed by Chris Scott, the former boss of Australia's biggest ASX-listed childcare firm G8 Education, has made its third acquisition in a month in Australia. Mr Scott is the biggest shareholder in Evolve and in August became managing director...
