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Welcome to the Office of Early Childhood Education
The OECE is a national organisation for the ECE sector and public adviser, championing high-quality education and care for every child
View our positions
- Provides membership support to ECE services, teachers, researchers, and community partners
- Actively contributes to sector analysis, research, and policy development
- Advances evidence-based best practices that prioritise children’s interests and wellbeing
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Teacher Member Posts
ICT Digital Technology Use in ECE and Questions
ICT in Early Childhood Education: Questions, Issues and Planning Considerations.
Technology is part of every child’s life and at some point, children are almost certain to want to use and may get hooked on technology – a phone, iPad, or digital camera.
While there are some that would say pre-school years are too early to be introd
Nappies – The Options and What’s Best in ECE
As professionals, teachers are often presented with situations that require them to consider what is important to the families of the children they are teaching, while ensuring that they are working in an environment where they are comfortable and where their training and experience is valued and appreciated.
In deciding how to approach the reus
How to Find Common Ground with Dads
Relationships with Dads in ECE.
How can we as female educators find common-ground with Dads that is non-threatening? Karen (ECE teacher).
Dr Alexander Replies:
* A major common-ground between female educators and Dads is the child – talk with Dads about their children, what their child has been doing during the day, ask questio
Heuristic Play and Treasure Baskets
Heuristic Play.
In the modern world where many toys are made of shiny coloured plastic and have buttons to press with flashing lights and noises, it is often easy to forget that simple things can interest and stimulate young children.
In fact these simple things can often be better for them as they have a wider range of textures an
Service Provider Member Posts
Managing Staff Drug and Alcohol Impairment
Staff using controlled drugs or working while impaired by alcohol is a serious safety risk. While managers and employers may know their responsibilities, navigating what to do can be difficult.
Financial Sustainability
Early Childhood Service Financial Sustainability.
Unless as much or more money is coming in than is going out, your service could come to be at risk. Here are some strategies for financial sustainability and increasing your revenue stream when necessary. What strategies you agree with and disagree with will depend on your values and the reasons
Business Structures and Board Legal Requirements
ECE Business Structures.
Early childhood education and care services differ in organisational type.
Here is an outline of different business types, the defining features, and broad legal requirements for each.
Owner-Operated or Sole Trader
Any person can own an early childhood service business. They collect all profits
Losing a Child or Preventing Children Escaping Policy
Prevent Child Escapes.
Having a child slip out of a gate un-noticed or being sent home with the wrong person is something that everyone would dread.
It is expected that children are safe in their ECE environment and cared for at all times.
So in terms of developing policy and involving parents and others to play their part in ensuring th
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
Solo Fathers with Young Children and their Social Needs
Solo fathers are an ‘invisible’ group in society, although Census data suggests they make up almost 5% of families in New Zealand. No research other than a review of Census data in 1999 has been done on this family type in New Zealand, and there is also very little published research overseas, especially where it includes young children. This i
Removing Socio-Economic Barriers to Participation in Early Childhood Education
This paper reviews policy approaches to increase the participation of children from low socio-economic families in quality early childhood education. Problems are identified with current policy approaches and an equitable way forward is proposed. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
Public-Professional Barriers to Breastfeeding
Drawing on lived experience within the ECE sector, this reflection reveals how public‑professional attitudes can undermine breastfeeding despite clear developmental and equity benefits. It’s a must‑read for anyone shaping research, policy, or system‑level change in early childhood education.
It is Difficult to Review the Quality of Education if You Don’t Know What Children are Learning: ERO and Self-Review of Early Childhood Services
A critical look at the New Zealand Education Review Office’s draft guidelines for reviewing early childhood services is provided in this paper. ERO’s guidelines provide a range of “evaluation indicators” to inform centres as to what is considered to be effective practice. The indicators that ERO provides in relation to the assessment of chi
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