Early Childhood Education Update
This is the first time the early childhood education Update publication has appeared in the Education Gazette. The next early childhood update will appear in Volume 87 Issue 17, which is available from Monday 22 September. If your service does not currently get the Education Gazette you can subscribe by going to www.edgazette.govt.nz
Minister's message
A good start to a child's educational journey is critical for life long educational success. The government is committed to trying to get all young New Zealanders into quality early childhood education.
A significant milestone in the journey towards delivering increased participation, improved quality and stronger relationships in early childhood education was the passing into law of the new regulations, criteria and curriculum framework in late July. Together with the funding for 20 free hours entitlement for all three and four year olds the 2008 regulatory system, which comes into effect from 1 December 2008, is the single biggest change in the early childhood sector.
The regulations have been developed over a number of years and are the result of widespread consultation with the early childhood education sector, parents, whanau and caregivers. I would like to thank all those who have contributed for their hard work and dedication to improving the quality and accessibility of early childhood education.
Successful implementation very much depends on the government continuing to work closely with the early childhood education sector. We all have a role to play in ensuring that every child is given the opportunity to benefit from quality early childhood education.
I hope to continue our strong collaborative relationship with the aim of providing the best possible start for our children and the future success of New Zealand.
Hon. Chris Carter
Minister of Education
2008 Regulatory System
In the June issue of Update we talked about the implementation of the 2008 early childhood education regulatory system.
In late-July the 2008 regulations, criteria and curriculum framework were passed into law. This was a significant milestone.
The 2008 regulatory system comes into effect from 1 December 2008; existing services will have until 30 November 2014 to comply with the 2008 regulatory system.
The six year transition period is about bringing existing services into the 2008 regulatory system in a systematic way over a period of time that is manageable for both the sector and the ministry.
What happens now?
Nothing, right now.
The amended Act, new regulations and criteria are now law, but they will not apply to anyone until 1 December 2008. This means that people have time to access copies of the regulations and criteria and familiarise themselves with the requirements; there is plenty of time, but start planning now.
Regional staff will be scheduling free information evenings during late- September and October.
Services are encouraged to attend these free sessions on the 2008 regulatory system to ensure they receive accurate information directly from the Ministry of Education.
More information about these free sessions will be provided in the next Early Childhood Education Update section of the Education Gazette, available from 22 September 2008.
What happens after 1 December 2008? All new services that have not operated before will be subject to the 2008 regulatory system and will be assessed against the regulations and criteria that apply. Any license to operate will be issued under the 2008 regulatory system.
Services who have submitted a completed and approved application prior to 1 December 2008 will be licensed under the 1998 regulatory system.
All existing services that are already licensed and/or chartered before 1 December 2008 will continue to comply with the existing requirements that currently apply until your service is visited by the Ministry of Education and assessed against the 2008 regulatory system. This will happen during the six year transition period.
The transition period runs from 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2014.
How do I get a copy of the 2008 regulations?
Hard copies of the regulations are available from Bennetts or Whitcoulls from approximately $3.00 - $5.00, and online at the following links:
• The Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008:
www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2008/0204/latest/DLM1412501.html
• The Education (Playgroups) Regulations 2008:
www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2008/0205/latest/DLM1396401.html
How do I get a copy of the 2008 criteria for my service type?
Electronic copies of the criteria are available now at www.lead.ece.govt.nz and can be downloaded free of charge. Once published (late-August), each early childhood education service will receive a copy of the criteria that applies to their service type in the mail. Additional hard copies will be available for purchase through Wickliffe on 0800 660 662.
Fact sheets outlining the differences for each service type and a set of frequently asked questions can be found at
www.lead.ece.govt.nz
What are some of the key changes under the 2008 regulatory system?
• There will be integrated rules for home-based and centre-based services.
• The funding rules and requirements for playgroups have been replaced with one set of rules.
Two new service types have been created:
• hospital-based services are for young patients in a hospital and are not required to have an outdoor play area
• limited attendance centres are where children can visit up to two hours each day, but no more than six hours each week, with their parent or caregiver in close proximity
• Services' charter documents will no longer be required because the Statement of Desirable Objectives and Practices has been integrated into a single set of regulations for all licensed services, and a curriculum framework prescribed
• New licenses for services will be issued for a sixyear period, rather than in perpetuity; certificates for playgroups will be issued for a three-year period.
Curriculum Framework
For the first time an early childhood education curriculum framework has been acknowledged in law.
But what does this mean for early childhood services?
The early childhood sector has moved a long way in the last 20 years. Twenty years ago, a large part of the sector was focused on the care of children and the word curriculum was rarely used. When all early childhood education services came together under the Department of Education, there was a shift in focus that placed learning at the heart of early childhood practice.
Te Whariki: He Whariki Matauranga mo Nga Mokopuna o Aotearoa, the first nationally developed early childhood curriculum, was published in 1996. It has provided a foundation for developing quality across the sector, and has been used as the basis for the Statement of Desirable Objectives and Practices and Education Review Office indicators of quality.
Legislating Te Whariki as the curriculum was one of the actions identified by the sector working group as an important part of improving quality in early childhood education provision in New Zealand.
A national curriculum framework sets expectations to guide all curricula and programmes across the early childhood education sector and forms the basis for ensuring that children in all early childhood education settings experience quality teaching and learning.
The curriculum framework is a formal common basis for all early childhood education curriculum development and implementation under the 2008 regulatory system.
The curriculum framework comes into effect from 1 December 2008.
For more information on the curriculum framework go to
www.lead.ece.govt.nz/CurriculumFramework/default
Cyber-Citizens and Cybersafe DVD
During August the Ministry of Education sent early childhood services a copy of the Cyber- Citizens and Cybersafe DVD.
This DVD is the latest in a series of resources the ministry has developed to boost cybersafety in the early childhood education sector and follows a series of regional workshops on cybersafety, the distribution of the NetSafe ECE Cybersafety Kit to early childhood education services and the introduction and promotion of Hector's World cybersafety tools for young children.
The DVD shows the importance of cybersafety and features journeys that some early childhood education services have been on and interviews with cybersafety experts who discuss some of the risks associated with information and communications technology use. Some of these insights are also featured in the printed case studies that have also been sent to early childhood services.
The Cyber-Citizens and Cybersafe DVD is designed to be held by services, but available to parents and others who want to know more about being cybersafe, particularly around young children.
Additional copies of these resources are available from Wickliffe on 0800 660 662.
Study Grants
Study Grants support students who hold particular qualifications to gain their first early childhood teaching qualification that leads to registration as an early childhood teacher. Study Grants contribute towards the costs that students face while studying.
In semester one a total of 115 Study Grants were granted.
Study Grants of $3000 may be applied for by:
• qualified primary teachers who enrol in specific New Zealand Teachers Councilapproved programmes of early childhood teacher education
• primary student teachers who change their programme of study from primary to specific New Zealand Teachers Council-approved programmes of early childhood teacher education
• degree-holders who enrol in a Graduate Diploma of Teaching (ECE) at the University of Auckland Faculty of Education, Victoria University of Wellington College of Education, University of Waikato School of Education, University of Otago College of Education or the University of Canterbury College of Education.
The semester two round is currently open and will close on Friday 5 September 2008 at 5.00pm.
More information can be found at
www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/sg2008
or contact Kelly McMurtrie on
kelly.mcmurtrie@minedu.govt.nz
Things to note
Ordering Resources And Publications
The way you order early childhood education resources and publications has changed.
Wickliffe has been providing customer services from 1 March for Ministry of Education publications. If you need to order anything, phone 0800 660 662, or fax 0800 660 663.
You will soon be able to order resources online or by email through a new ordering catalogue.
Discretionary Grants Scheme
The Early Childhood Education Discretionary Grants Scheme (DGS) is a bi-annual allocation of grants made to eligible community based groups. The DGS supports the achievement of goals identified in the early childhood education strategic plan Pathways to the Future: Nga Huarahi Arataki by increasing participation through the provision of funding.
The DGS funding pool for 2008/09 is $16.239 million (GST inclusive). Funding is allocated in two rounds; applications for the second round close on Friday 24 October 2008 at 5.00pm.
More information can be found at
www.lead.ece.govt.nz/Funding/DiscretionaryGrantsScheme/default
Establishment Funding
Establishment Funding is a pool of funding available to community based groups in the process of establishing a licensed service and existing services significantly increasing their licensed child places from a building extension. It provides a contribution to assist services with the operational costs associated with meeting licensing requirements. The funding is available to meet two types of operational costs:
• equipment and resources (existing services can only apply for this)
• staffing and recruitment costs. Funding is allocated in four rounds; applications for the second round close on Friday 31 October 2008 at 5.00pm.
More information can be found at
www.lead.ece.govt.nz/Funding/EstablishmentFunding
Useful Links
www.lead.ece.govt.nz
www.educate.ece.govt.nz
www.teamup.co.nz