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Welcome to the Office of Early Childhood Education
National and public adviser on ECE, the OECE is a sector body representing teachers and all types of licensed services driving safer, higher‑quality education for every child
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- 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
Fireworks Enjoyment and Pet Safety
Fireworks safety around young children and pets. Things to teach and talk about with children in conjunction with Guy Fawkes Day and the use of…
Creating Edible Gardens with Children
Edible gardens in early childhood centres and homes provide a valuable resource for teaching many aspects of the early childhood curriculum while also creating and…
Volunteers and Unpaid Workers in ECE – Your Rights
Voluntary work in ECE. There are many examples in the early childhood sector of different ways employers may rely on free labour, such as: I…
Winter and Rainy Day Activities
Winter and Rainy Day Children's Activities. When the children are getting restless and the noise levels are going up and up and you are thinking…
Service Provider Member Posts
Values-based Interviewing as Part of the Staff Safety Check
Values-based Interviewing. It is usual to conduct a formal interview with potential job applicants and to cover skills, experience and knowledge during the interview. This…
Meal and Rest Breaks: What ECE Employers Must Provide
Does your ECE service meet requirements for staff meal and rest breaks? Check your legal duties now and learn how to manage breaks well. Log…
Safety Checking of Staff and Others under the Children’s Act
Safety checking is required of every person who has or may have access to children as part of their work, such as cleaners and cooks…
CCTV and Security Camera Policy
The Office of ECE provides this CCTV policy template and guidance to help services using indoor or outdoor security cameras meet their legal obligations under…
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
From a Good Idea to a Robust Research Design: A Discussion of Challenges in Designing Early Childhood Research
Designing an ECE Research Study. By Claire McLachlan. Abstract: Designing and carrying out research in the area of early childhood education is one that is…
Engaging in Collaborative Research: Lessons Learned
Teacher-Researcher Partnership and Research Collaborations. By Margaret Turnbull and Helen Dixon. NZ Research in Early Childhood Education journal, Vol. 9, 2006, pp. 91-103 Abstract A…
Associate Teacher Mentoring and Leadership in Early Childhood Practicum
FULL REFERENCE: Keepa C., and Vaughan, C. (2026). He Aka Matua: Navigating the Shifting Tides of Associate Teacher Mentoring and Leadership in Early Childhood Practicum.…
Changing Roles and Responsibilities: The Development of Coaching in Early Intervention
This paper examines if coaching has a potential role in helping authentic collaborative partnerships between early intervention teachers and early childhood educators and families. Coaching…
What We Do
The Office of ECE drives high-quality care, learning and teaching for all infants and young children and high-quality working environments for teachers and service providers.
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