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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
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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
Seven Tips to Ease Back into Work After the Holidays
Going Back to Work.
Here are 7 of the best tips for easing back to work after a holiday or other break away – smoothing the transition for children and others around you.
Tip 1: Don’t worry, be happy
Children need to see their teachers and carers relaxed, positive and cheerful at the start of a new day and especially at the star
The Importance of a Play Based Approach
The Play Based Approach – Helping young learners to flourish.
The one thing every parent, caregiver and educator wishes most for a young child is to have a happy and fulfilled childhood.
What is a Play Based Approach?
A play-based approach is a a child-centered approach. When learning and teaching is play-based it is about lea
Immigrant Children and Families
Immigrant Children in ECE. By Angel Chan.
As New Zealand has opened its doors more to immigrants from all over the world, early childhood services are experiencing significant growth in the enrolment of immigrant children.
Many immigrant children and parents have learning and parenting styles different from ‘New Zealanders’, posing ch
Making Volcanoes
Making Volcanoes with Children.
Children find volcanoes intriguing.
Here are some key facts and simple information to share with children about volcanoes and geysers, along with a ‘recipe’ for making your very own fun miniature demonstration volcano. Introducing knowledge and understanding of volcanoes is a common part of teaching and
Service Provider Member Posts
Annual Holiday Leave Use
Unused holiday leave. We have a teacher who chose to take carry over her leave from last year to this year. Does she need to use up all of this leave before the end of the year or can she roll it over to next year? We would prefer she take the time this year before Christmas.Service provider.
All employees: part time, full time, fixed
Toddler Left in Car Seat Died
Unexplained absence.
A 16-month-old was found dead after his mum went to work, accidentally leaving him sleeping in his car seat in her car parked at work. She had not realised he was still in the car and had forgotten to drop him at the early childhood centre. Tragically the toddler died from heatstroke. There can be other situations t
Staffing Rosters: Balancing Safety and Compliance at Opening and Closing
Staffing Rosters at opening and closing can make or break the safety and compliance of an early childhood service. Many leaders are unsure what the law actually requires, especially when only a few children remain at the end of the day. This article cuts through the confusion with clear guidance on ratios, supervision, and who can legally be left to open or close the centre and differences between legal and best practice.
Food Allergy Management
Food Allergy Management.
Sharing a sweet treat on your birthday is great fun, but in an early childhood setting it can be more complicated than simply working out how many pieces you need to cut the cake into.
If your centre or home-based service has children who have food allergies or intolerances, what seems like some harmless baking coul
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
Constructing Teacher Identities across Different Learning Paradigms
Abstract:
This article discusses one key finding from a qualitative study that investigated the experiences of overseas-born, ethnic minority early childhood pre-service teachers in New Zealand. Data were collected through interviews with recently graduated Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) teachers and early childhood lecturers
Observation: An Effective Research Tool or a Rude Intrusion?
Abstract:
This article discusses observation as a method of collecting data in early childhood research.
Observation has become a common mode of early childhood education practice, mostly to assess children’s learning, which has particularly become prevalent since the introduction of learning stories (Blaiklock, 2008; Carr et al., 2
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 collaborative research initiative was established between early childhood centre staff and teacher educators from a tertiary institution. The aim of the resear
Becoming Cognisant of Research Informed by Kaupapa Māori in Early Childhood Education: Issues and Contexts
Abstract:
This paper outlines tensions existing within student teacher self-study action research projects undertaken as a requirement of a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) at Te Whare Waananga o Wairaka Unitec Institute of Technology (Unitec).
Whilst student teachers in our programme are expected to engage in Kaupapa Māori
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