Child Care News
Early childhood teacher stripped of registration after falsifying records
RNZ - July 4, 2019An Auckland early childhood teacher has been stripped of her registration for what has been described as the "worst kind of misconduct." The Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal says Praneta Sharma falsified records and left a staff member alone with up to 34 children...
Two-year-old left asleep in 'stifling hot' room in locked Rotorua childcare centre
NZ Herald - Simon Collins - July 3, 2019A 2-year-old boy was left locked inside a "stifling hot" Rotorua childcare centre after all the teachers left for the day. The boy's mother saw the child asleep on a cushion through the windows of the locked Ebabies Early Learning Centre at Glenholme Primary School when she arrived to collect him...
Kindergarten teachers next in line to negotiate Government's collective agreements
Stuff - Jessica Long - July 3, 2019Kindergarten teachers are the next in line to start negotiations with the Government over pay and work conditions. Members of the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa began talks with the Ministry of Education over the collective agreement on Wednesday after the contract expired on May 31...
As school days beckon, the farewells begin to our toddlers' teachers
Stuff - Greer Berry - July 3, 2019As the saying goes, the days are long but the years are short when raising small humans. This past week proved to be a good reminder of this. The ebb and flow of parenting life was obvious as my emotions swung all over the place during two big milestones over the past few days...
Preschool teacher facing misconduct charges for lunchbox sweet food removal, other issues
NZ Herald - July 2, 2019A preschool teacher has been charged with serious misconduct after she allegedly removed sweet food from children's lunchboxes, punished them for not eating their lunch and physically mishandled them. The teacher, who has interim name suppression, was described by witnesses as...
Kids turning up to early childhood centres 'daily without food'
NZ Herald - Nita Blasek-Persen of RNZ - July 2, 2019Some babies are being dropped at pre-school with no formula or nappies, and toddlers are going without shoes or lunches in the middle of winter. More than 70 early childhood centres have put their hands up to request food, clothing and hygiene products from the children's charity Kidscan...
Ministry shuts early childhood centre after finding 47 breaches
NZ Herald - July 1, 2019Just under 10 years ago, a Rotorua early childhood centre opened its doors. Running as part of the education strategy for Ngāti Whakaue, it was driven by a philosophy that iwi have an obligation to meet the needs of whānau, hapū and marae. But earlier this month, those dreams were slammed...
Minister for Women says gender imbalance at Nelson, Tasman councils a concern
TV NZ - Kaitlin Ruddock - June 30, 2019Ms Genter believes there have been some barriers for women standing for local government, which include “the times of the meetings, the amount of the pay”. “Until recently, there hasn't been an allowance for childcare which is probably been more difficult for young parents to stand whether they're young men or women.”...
Hamilton land and buildings house childcare centre
NZ Herald - June 29, 2019The land and buildings leased by a Hamilton childcare centre are for sale at a fixed price of $3.3 million. ABC Business Sales broker Linda Harley says Old Macdonald's Rural Education and Care Centre has signed a 15-year lease for the purpose-built centre at 584B Ruakura Rd, Newstead...
Daycare centre complaints the 'tip of the iceberg', NZ experts say
Stuff NZ - Josephine Franks - June 28, 2019Complaints about daycare centres leapt more than a quarter last year, but experts say many more problems go unreported. The Ministry of Education published its report detailing 430 complaints on Tuesday. Neglect, abuse and poor hygiene were among the complaints laid. Susan Bates is an early childhood teacher...
Sea of lights brighten up the night at a Rotorua kindergarten's mid-winter festival
NZ Herald - Shauni James - June 28, 2019A sea of lights lit up dark streets in Rotorua as young ones and their families came together to celebrate mid-winter on the shortest day. Last Friday Pathways Steiner Kindergarten held its annual Lantern Festival. Teacher Rachel Matthews says it is part of the Rudolf Steiner philosophy to celebrate...
Former dental nurse shocked at country's preschool dental care situation
Stuff - Jane Matthews - June 27, 2019When Tril Sutherland was a preschool dental nurse in the 1950s every child had their teeth checked and fixed twice a year. Now, she can't believe the stories she's reading about the state of children's teeth and dental surgery waiting times, and is wondering what "on earth" happened...
Horizons Regional Council rejects move to pay councillors' childcare bill
Stuff - Jono Galuszka - June 25, 2019Regional councillors get money for phone bills and mileage, but will not be able to get financial help taking care of their children when they are on ratepayer business. Horizons Regional Council voted on Tuesday against a move to adopt a policy allowing parents to claim childcare bills while they are at meetings...
2018 Early childhood education complaints report published
Scoop - Press Release: Ministry of Education - June 25, 2019More parents, whānau and caregivers are complaining to the Ministry when they have a concern about early childhood education, with a total of 430 complaints received in 2018. "It’s important that parents and whānau can have confidence that their children are learning in a safe, well-run early childhood service...
Kindergarten takes on solar power
Gisborne Herald - June 25, 2019Makauri Rural Kindergarten is now the proud owner of a large set of solar panels which will help towards their goal of being a sustainable organisation. “We are very excited to have the panels installed and they should save us up to $2000 on power each year,” says head teacher Sheryl Hopkins...
