Child Care News
Kindergartens Welcome $24m for Learning Support Services
Scoop - June 24, 2019He Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens welcome the announcement that $24m will be invested into Early Intervention Services. Minister of Children, Tracey Martin visited Toru Fetū Kindergarten in Porirua today to announce $24m is to be dedicated to Early Intervention Services...
Plimmerton kindergarten fundraiser makes for a cold splash
Stuff - Julie Iles - June 23, 2019Despite worries that rain would discourage people from taking the plunge at this year's Plimmerton Mid Winter Dip, over a hundred people gathered at the beach on Sunday to support their local kindy. The costumed ocean swim has been Plimmerton Kindergarten's biggest fundraiser...
Petition seeks law change to allow 'bush kindergartens'
TVNZ Kate Nicol-Williams - June 22, 2019There are growing calls for a law change to allow full time nature-based childcare in New Zealand. Next week, a petition signed by more than 4500 educators, childcare centres and parents will be presented to the Government calling for the creation of a new licence type. Education regulations ...
Initiative to read 1000 books before school smashed out of the park by Motueka kindy
Stuff - Elise Vollweiler - June 20, 2019It's taken a year of dedicated teamwork, so the children at Laura Ingram Kindergarten are thrilled to have signed off their thousandth collective book this month. The kindergarten team signed up for Motueka's 1000 Books Before School programme mid-last year. Kindergarten teacher and 1000 Books proponent...
Early childhood teachers and whānau supported with new version of Take Another Look
NZ Tertiary College - June 20, 2019Early childhood education leaders New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC), New Shoots Publishing and Curiate have collaborated to support the sector with a third version of the publication Take Another Look: a guide to observing children – Tirohia anō: he momo ārahi ki te tiro i ngā tamariki...
NZTC partnership bolsters quality ECEC educators for South East China
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 19, 2019A collaboration between New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC), the Fujian Preschool Education College and the China Liberal Education Technology Development Company Limited has resulted in the training of hundreds of early childhood teachers (ECTs) now working in South East China...
NZ third worst among wealthy countries for mums' paid parental leave
Stuff - Brittany Keogh - June 17, 2019New Zealand has been ranked third-worst among wealthy nations for the amount of paid parental leave available to working mothers. The finding comes from a report by Unicef, which compared the minimum legal entitlements for men and women and other "family friendly policies" ...
Plumbers call for mandatory testing scheme to fight NZ's high rate of Legionnaires’ disease
TVNZ - June 13, 2019New Zealand plumbers are calling on mandatory tests in hospitals, rest homes and childcare centres for the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires’ disease. More needs to be done to ensure Kiwis are protected from the severe form of pnemonia, which can be deadly...
Manager of under-investigation daycare running holiday programmes
Stuff - Tom Hunt - June 12, 2019Four staff at a Hutt Valley childcare centre being investigated by the Teaching Council for mistreating children have agreed not to teach - but one continues to run holiday and after school programmes. Former Hutt Hospital Childcare Centre manager Sharon Hunter, who also uses the name Sharon Cooper...
Education Minister hiding from hard questions
Mirage News - June 12, 2019The New Zealand National Party Education Minister Chris Hipkins has today refused to answer questions on collective bargaining, an issue impacting teachers, parents and students across the country, National’s Education spokesperson Nikki Kaye says. “Mr Hipkins has been in a gridlock over collective bargaining for 12 months...
Timaru early learning centre takes a punt on third annual fundraiser
Stuff - Courtenay Henshaw - June 11, 2019Professional teacher development, and couches for children and teachers to sit on during reading time, will be funded by a Timaru early learning centre annual fundraiser. Creative Corner Early Learning Centre will hold its third casino fundraiser night on Saturday, hosted by The Oxford restaurant...
Parents should keep their sick kids from daycare - but we've all done it
Stuff - Sarah Murray - June 11, 2019OPINION: I saw the sign as soon as I walked into daycare. There was a vomiting bug. I considered turning straight back around and going home. Every time there is one of these signs in the foyer - for norovirus, for croup, for strep throat, for hand foot and mouth - my two-year-old son has caught it within 24 hours...
Working nightshift to avoid the high cost of childcare
Stuff - June 11, 2019In a rare moment of quality time with her two girls, Roimata Parata (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Toa) sits on the couch and strokes her daughters' hair. Roimata works nightshifts so the family doesn't have to pay for before and after-school care. She talks to UNICEF NZ as part of the global campaign #EarlyMomentsMatter.
Measles vaccination plan in Northland to improve low baby immunisation rates
Stuff - Denise Piper - June 10, 2019Northland District Health Board has launched an urgent plan to turn around low measles vaccination numbers, in light of outbreaks across the country. Just 83 per cent of eight-month-old Northland babies had their first injections on time - well below the 95 per cent target...
KidsCan plea: Principal tells heartbreaking story of truant brothers who only had one pair of shoes to share
NZ Herald - Belinda Feek - June 10, 2019An increasing number of children are turning up hungry and shoeless to school as the cost of living for some families in New Zealand proves too hard to handle. Last October, KidsCan launched a programme in 25 early childhood centres in Auckland, Northland and the Hawke's Bay...
