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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
View the Code of Conduct for ECE Services
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Education Bulletin and Sector Notices
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Membership Services and Support for:
Teacher Member Posts
Different Ways to Write a Learning Story
Learning stories remain the most commonly used assessment approach, yet the way they are written can differ widely between settings. Even though teachers and home‑based educators understand the general purpose of learning stories, many still wonder what the best practice looks like and how to do them well.
Helping Parents Make the Transition to ECE
Parents Leaving their Child For the First Time in Care – An anxious time.
“A heart wrenching moment for all parents is when we leave our child for the first time in the care of someone else who is not well-known to us or at early childhood service or school. A child may become a lot quieter than usual or kick up a fuss. Either way as parents we
Casual, Fixed‑Term, or Permanent? What Early Childhood Teachers Need to Know
It’s becoming common for early childhood services to place teaching staff on casual or fixed‑term contracts – when the role is ongoing and really should be permanent.
Since the government changed pay‑parity rules to exclude all non‑permanent teaching staff, we’re hearing from teachers that some employers are now using casual and fixed‑term contracts to avoid paying qualified and certificated teachers the pay‑parity rates they receive funding for. This can mean lost income, fewer rights, and less job protection for teachers who should legally be permanent.
It’s more important than ever to understand your rights and know what type of employment you actually have – not just what your contract says.
Log in with your member details to read the full guidance. If your membership has lapsed or you’d like to join, get in touch and we’ll help you get set up quickly.
If this is happening to you or to a colleague, it matters. You need to know your rights and be certain about the type of employment you actually have.
Death of a Child, Parent or Other Adult
In the event of the death of a child or person known at your service, the impact will be extensive on children, yourself, members of your team and your community.
You should be open and honest with your service leader and discuss the option of seeking professional help and support for yourself, in order to be able to adequately support children
Service Provider Member Posts
First Aid Qualifications and Staffing Requirements – All ECE Services
Number of first aid qualified staff and which staff must be first aid qualified in which services
From 26 February 2024, all persons designated the ‘person responsible’ in teacher-led education and care centres, including kindergartens must hold a first aid qualification from a training provider recognised by New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Leadership and Delegating
Delegating as a leader.
A key reason why the workload of a manager or leader can become unreasonable is that they can take on too much!
When a teacher takes on a management role a common mistake is to assume that the job consists of ensuring that they comply with regulatory and licensing requirements, health and safety and financial systems
Domestic Violence Leave
Domestic violence leave guidelines.
Asking for proof and how to treat an employee who is, or is suspected to be, affected by domestic violence
As an employer you can accept any type of proof that an employee is affected by domestic violence. Proof may, for example, take the form of: a letter or email about what’s going on and how it
Charging Fees When Closed for a Public Holiday
Charging Fees When Closed.
We asked ECE Service providers about their practices of charging fees when closed. A selection of comments is provided below. Add your comment on this topic and reply to any of the comments posted here.
See also public information on parent reactions to services continuing to charge fees when closed on statuto
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
Contents – NZ International Research in ECE Journal, 2019, Vol 22, No. 1
This issue spans sustainability pedagogies, post‑colonial tensions in Pacific ECE, digital technology use, advanced empathy, parent‑centred understandings of quality, schema‑informed behaviour support, and rhizomatic thinking in young children’s learning.
Contents – NZ International Research in ECE Journal, 2023, Vol 25
This issue explores cultural competence in teacher education, inclusive and culturally safe ECE workplaces, social‑justice leadership, children’s understandings of same‑sex families, and innovative perspectives on children’s thinking and identity.
Advancing Early Childhood Educators’ Access to Professional Learning in Gifted and Talented Education
An investigation into what specialists in gifted and talented education can provide to early childhood educators in professional learning and support and ECE teacher preferences and needs. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
Doctoral Thesis Directory
This is a Ph.D. and Ed.D. Education Doctoral Thesis Directory.
The Education Doctoral Thesis Directory shows theses completed in NZ, or through a NZ tertiary education institution, that are relevant to young children’s care, health, and education.
An education masters thesis directory is also available if you would like to search for
What We Do
Resources
