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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
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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Membership Services and Support for:
Teacher Member Posts
Picky Eaters and Managing Children’s Eating Habits
Picky eaters? Some children may display anxiety and unhealthy eating habits when they begin early childhood education, others may display behaviours at different times that…
Can Women Understand How Boys Tick?
Should Boys Have a Male Teacher? I don’t believe we as women understand how boys really tick. If boys had a male teacher would this…
Noho Marae – What’s involved and making the most out of your overnight stay at a marae
If you’ve attended noho marae before, you will likely have some knowledge of the pōwhiri or mihi whakatau process, and of the specific tikanga of…
Sign Language and Baby (Child) Signing
Baby Signing. What is baby (child) signing?History - how it developed and what the researchers discovered. Simple tips for getting started with baby signing. Examples…
Service Provider Member Posts
Complying with the Food Act
Complying with the Food Act. All ECE services to whom the Food Act applies must apply for registration (under national programme 2) and be registered…
Waiver Forms
Waivers and Indemnity against theft or damage to a child's belongings, injury, or death. An early childhood service may choose to include a waiver or…
Sandpit – Safety, Hygiene and Health
Sandpit safety and hygiene. There are many potential safety problems and hazards in regard to sandpits. Sandpit Safety. Ensure that active supervision of children in…
Illness and Infectious Disease Policy: Covering Children and Adults
Illness and infectious‑disease management is under closer scrutiny than ever, and every ECE service must have a policy that reflects current regulations and best practice.…
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
Working Towards Culturally Safe and Inclusive Early Childhood Work Environments
FULL REFERENCE: Griffiths, V., Hall, E., Hartley, D., Hohaia-Rollinson, F., Malcolm J., Purdue, K. and Tate, A. (2023). Working towards culturally safe and inclusive early…
Affordability of Quality Early Childhood Education and Care
FULL REFERENCE: Seagrave, T. (2019). Affordability of early childhood education and care. NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal. Special issue presenting early childhood position…
Supporting Preschool Children’s Wellbeing through Home-based Literacy Development
FULL REFERENCE: McInnes, E., Harris, P., Neill, B., Diamond, A., Brock, C., and Camaitoga U. (2021). Supporting preschool age children’s wellbeing through home-based literacy development…
Early Childhood Practitioners Developing an Academic Voice and Tutors Making Sense of the Research Process
The study shares insights into the way undergraduate students who are early childhood practitioners in their final year of study developed an academic voice beyond…
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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