Child Care News
Te Rito Maioha early childhood teachers graduate
Stuff NZ - George Heagney - February 26, 2019An early childhood training centre that has a hands-on learning approach has prepared another group of teachers for the world. Twenty-five early childhood teachers graduated from Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand at the Palmerston North Conference and Function Centre...
Childcare costs jump to equal private school fees
NZ Herald - Simon Collins - 25 Feb, 2019Childcare costs have jumped in the past decade to the point where they are often now roughly the same as private school fees. Statistics NZ data, requested after an IbisWorld survey found a big jump in the cost of raising children, shows that early childhood education prices paid by parents...
Childcare centres defend rising fees, as cost of raising a child rises
Stuff NZ - Catherine Harris - February 25, 2019Peter Reynolds, chief executive of the Early Childhood Council, said there were indeed more children in childcare but subsidies had not kept pace, forcing many centres to raise their fees. "We've had a government in play that has had a policy in place to actively reduce the per child...
Childcare most expensive cost of raising children: research
NZ Herald - Nikki Preston - February 25, 2019Cash-strapped Kiwi parents are spending almost twice as much raising kids as they were five years ago, according to new research. The average spend on the three biggest rising costs - childcare, footwear and clothing - is estimated to be $5028 per baby this year compared to $3034 in 2013/14...
Bay of Plenty home-based child carers welcome changes
NZ Herald - Zizi Sparks - February 23, 2019Bay of Plenty home-based childcarers are welcoming an announcement qualifications will become compulsory for them. The new regime, unveiled by Education Minister Chris Hipkins this week, required home-based carers to have, or be working towards, early childhood education...
Vulnerable families disadvantaged by early learning changes
Scoop NZ - February 21, 2019Refugee families and vulnerable children will be most negatively impacted from changes announced by Education Minister Chris Hipkins today. Following last year’s review of the home based early learning sector, Mr Hipkins today announced that all home based Educators...
Option for home-based early education at serious risk
Scoop NZ - February 21, 2019Two of New Zealand’s leading, high quality providers of home-based education are dismayed at the Government’s announcement today. Au Pair Link CEO, Morgan Holyoake said the policy announcement by the Minister of Education that requires all home-based early childhood...
More than 150 early childhood teachers to graduate
Scoop NZ - Press Release: Early Childhood New Zealand - February 21, 2019More than 150 early childhood teachers are graduating from Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand over the next month. ‘Te Rito Maioha continues to do its bit to fulfil the need for more and more qualified early childhood teachers in New Zealand,’ says Chief Executive, Kathy Wolfe...
Early childhood sector split by move for mandatory qualifications
Radio NZ - John Gerritsen - February 20, 2019The government's announcement of mandatory qualifications for home-based early childhood workers has divided the sector. Some businesses said the new minimum requirement of a level-four certificate in early learning would drive at-home carers underground...
NZEI welcomes plans for in-home early childhood education
Scoop NZ - February 20, 2019NZEI Te Riu Roa welcomes the Government's plans to require early childhood qualifications for in-home educators. NZEI President Lynda Stuart said the move was long overdue, as children deserve educators who are learners themselves and a framework that keeps them safe...
Compulsory qualifications planned for home-based early childhood education and childcare
NZ Herald - Simon Collins - 20 February, 2019Some childcare providers are expected to quit, and those who stay in the business may raise their fees, under a new policy requiring home-based carers to become qualified. The new regime, to be unveiled by Education Minister Chris Hipkins today, will require home-based carers to have...
Early childhood centre numbers in Tauranga soar, as teacher shortage bites
NZ Herald - Caroline Fleming - February 19, 2019A perfect storm is brewing in Tauranga's early childhood sector as new childcare centre growth surges and a teacher shortage bites. More than 20 early childhood centres have opened in the Tauranga in the last three years, according to Ministry of Education. Yet industry experts say...
Early learning educators turn out at Whanganui hui discussing draft strategic plan for early learning
NZ Herald - Jesse King - February 18, 2019About 70 locals involved with early learning services gathered at Wanganui Racecourse last week to discuss the Government's draft strategic plan for early learning. The 10 year draft plan, called He taonga te tamaiti, was announced by education minister Chris Hipkins...
Popular Porirua childcare centre forced to move for the second time in two years
Stuff NZ - Virginia Fallon - February 17, 2019Jenni Mason is feeling a strong sense of deja vu these days. For the second time in just over two years, the not-for-profit childcare centre she manages is facing closure unless it finds a new property, and time is running out. Ten jobs are at stake, as well as childcare for dozens of families...
A chance to improve early childhood education training
Scoop NZ - Press Release: NZEI Te Riu Roa - February 15, 2019The Minister of Education’s bold proposal for reform in the polytechnic sector announced on Wednesday could have a positive impact on those early childhood teachers who access their training through polytechnics by reducing unnecessary competition and improving teaching...
