Education Conference
Education in the new environment.
Gain insight, learn, add your voice, generate ideas, forge partnerships, demonstrate your commitment.

Research shows that high quality ECE centres have a stable staff of trained and qualified teachers. Qualified teachers know how to help children progress, can respond to their interests and improve their skills.
The government dropped the target of achieving 100% qualified and registered ECE teachers in 2009. It now only requires services to employ 50%, and funds onl yup to 80%.
NZEI wants the target of 100% qualified teachers mandated and funding to support that to be reinstated.

Children do best when they form strong bonds with adults who know them well and have plenty of time to play and interact with them individually and in groups, especially babies and toddlers.
The government pledged in 2008 to reduce adult:child ratios for children under two to 1:4.
NZEI wants the 1:4 ratio implemented immediately and a ratio of 1:8 for children over two introduced.

Size counts. Many children are comfortable and can learn more in small groups. Often teachers find small groups make it easier to respond to children as individuals.
The government has increased the maximum size of ECE centres from 50 to 150 children over two, and up to 25 children under 2.
Most quality centres currently provide a maximum of 15 under 2s and 40 over 2s.

Positive interactions between teachers and children and between teachers, children and their families are vital. Quality services encourage parents and whanau to be involved in children's learning. Positive relationships lay the foundation for responsive and personalised learning for all children.
NZEI wants the target of 100% qualified teachers mandated and funding to support that to be reinstated.

ECE environments need to offer warmth and predictability for both childrenand whanau. At the same time children need learning experiences that are stimulating and challenging, providing opportunities for children’s knowledge and understanding to be extended and deepened.
NZEI wants the government to acknowledge that responsive learning environments require investment.

Investing in Quality Early Childhood Education:ECE Hui - Ellerslie Function Centre,
Auckland, 18 & 19 October 2013
Read the flier
A five-year campaign to invest in early childhood education and give every child the best start in life is being launched on Children’s Day, March 3, at the Carter Observatory in Wellington. NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Judith Nowotarski says the campaign sets goals for improving quality in early childhood services. She says government..
Welcome to the campaign website for All Kids Deserve the Best Start, a five-year campaign calling for investment in early childhood education to give every child the best start in life.
Education in the new environment.
Gain insight, learn, add your voice, generate ideas, forge partnerships, demonstrate your commitment.
