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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
When Your Service is Not Meeting Adult-Child Ratio Minimums
Not meeting adult:child ratios.
There are various ways that adult-child ratios can become a problem.
For example, does your manager or boss tell you that it is okay to go under ratio and not replace you when you go on morning-tea breaks and on other occasions provided you are still in the building or on the grounds?
Ratios
Making Signs as Part of Play
Making signs enriches play and learning.
All around us are signs – what ones can you see?
Signs can be used to tell us what to do like “stop” and “give way” on the road.
They can be used to let us know about dangers (e.g. “wet floor”) and to make announcements (e.g. “cooking at 2pm today”).
Signs can also be used to labe
Boys Educational Underachievement
This article looks at arguments around boys and educational underachievement and proposes that early childhood teachers should take education to where the boys are at. UK education expert Tim Kahn, gives an example of how an early childhood teacher put aside her initial feeling to forbid boys from following their play interest and en
Sleep – How Much and Meeting Parents’ Wishes
Sleeping During the Day at ECE.
Nap, sleep and rest times have led to tensions and stand-offs between teachers, parents and children in some centres and home-based services.
Perhaps instead of asking who should decide whether a child has a sleep or nap, when, and for how long, we should work toward solutions that please and best suit everyon
Service Provider Member Posts
The Difference Between a Salary and a Wage – and Work Hour Maximums
Salary and Wage Differences.
An employment contract must state the type of pay an employee will be paid.
Wage refers to the amount of money that is paid to an employee, by the hour, and it may vary from one pay period to the next depending on the number of hours the worker is employed.
Salary refers to a fixed amount of pay regardl
Case Studies of Centres that Successfully Completed Self-Review
Self-Review and The Quality Journey: Is there a Leader at the Helm? By Anne Grey.
This article explores the role of the leader in early childhood centre self-review.
Two case studies of centres that had successfully completed self-review in the previous twelve-month period were undertaken. The leader of each centre was interviewed, the
Right of Entry Policy
Regulations require that certain groups of people, including parents, union staff, and public officials, have a right of entry to the early childhood service under certain conditions, and set out the responsibilities of the early childhood service.
Below is a Right of Entry Policy and a set of procedures for different situations. Adapt and re-w
How to write a policy
How to write a policy on anything or topic for your early childhood service.
What needs to be included in a written policy.
Answers to your questions such as how often you need to review policy.
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
Strengthening Policy Implementation and System Coordination for Equitable Early Childhood Development in Fiji
Full reference: Tiko, L. (2025). Strengthening policy implementation and system coordination for equitable early childhood development in Fiji. NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 27, 83-96.
Login to read the full research paper below. Or order a pdf copy of the article from the main NZIRECE Journal page.
Abstract
This paper critically explores the challenges and opportunities in strengthening policy implementation and system coordination for equitable Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Fiji. It interrogates the effectiveness of the 2024 to 2028 National ECD Policy and the 2025 Pre-Primary Policy, focusing on persistent disparities in resource distribution, professional development, and infrastructure between urban and rural ECE centres. The paper highlights fragmented inter-ministerial coordination among the Ministries of Education, Health, and Women and Children, revealing operational silos and inconsistent planning mechanisms. Situated within the broader context of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the analysis emphasises the importance of culturally grounded, community-led approaches rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems. The commentary calls for a paradigm shift in ECD policy implementation, one that centres equity, resilience, and local agency to build inclusive and sustainable early childhood systems across Fiji and the Pacific.
Key words: Early Childhood Development, Policy Implementation, System Coordination.
Three-year-old Children’s Visual Art Experiences
Three-year-old Children’s Visual Art Experiences.
Julie Plows. University of Auckland, NZ.
Full reference: Plows, J (2015). Three-year-old children’s visual art experiences. NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 18, 37 – 51.
Original Research
Abstract
This art-based study investigated the verbal and
The State of Play in Early Childhood Policy: A Note from Australia
The State of Play in Early Childhood Policy: A Note from Australia.
Frances Press. Charles Sturt University, New South Wales.
Full Reference: Press, F. (2014). The State of Play in Early Childhood Policy: A Note from Australia. NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 17, 11 – 20.
Invited Country Note
Abstr
Parent Engagement and its Influence on Early Childhood Education Teachers
Research on the influence of parents on teachers and their teaching practices. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
What We Do
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