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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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Teacher Member Posts

Diseases Requiring Children and Adults Not to Be at ECE
Diseases and Conditions Requiring Exclusion of Children and Adults from Coming In Contact with Any Other Person at the ECE Service.
Below is a list of the diseases and conditions likely to be passed on to children and to have a detrimental effect on them. When a child or adult has one of these diseases or conditions the early childhood s

Looking Professional in ECE: Clothing, Comfort and Common‑Sense (staff of all genders)
Clear advice on what to wear, what’s appropriate, and how to navigate expectations around uniforms, tattoos, jewellery, shoes and overall professional appearance. It’s a helpful guide for anyone starting a new role or wanting to feel confident, comfortable and respected in their early childhood workplace.

The Books Children Like Best
The Type of Books Young Children Like Best.
Books are an integral part of a child’s education but getting them to sit down and look at books can be difficult when there are so many other things competing for a child’s attention.
Often books are chosen by adults, particularly for younger children and babies, but even young children

Asking for More Pay – Negotiating and Pay Reviews
Asking for More Pay.
In this article we discuss:
Getting over your fear to ask for a pay rise. What your employer’s obligations are. Preparing to negotiate and what you can expect.
Getting over fear to ask for a pay rise
If you do not ask you may not get. If you believe you are due a pay rise there is no harm in asking. 
Service Provider Member Posts

Establishing Good Internal Financial Control and Preventing Fraud
ECE Internal Financial Control Systems.
Why internal control?
Internal control systems are normal in business and society and will be expected of you by your staff, fellow owners, parents, board members, bankers and financiers.
They help establish a climate of good control which produces reliable financial records, good management

Allegations Made Against a Teacher
Allegations against a teacher.
You have noticed a problem with a staff member’s behaviour, or someone comes to you with allegations of professional misconduct or harming a child. What can you do – and what should you do and why?
Responding to allegations against a teacher, investigation, and disciplinary meeting
Quietly assess if this c

Governance Training and Capacity
Governance Training.
Most board members have little, if any, training on how to govern an early childhood service effectively.
They are often volunteers.
They may come onto the board thinking their role is merely to support the supervisor or manager and mostly to fundraise and offer practical ideas for day-to-day operations.&nb

A Small Privately-Owned Centre Set-Up
Small Privately-Owned Centre. By Marian Ayres Hill.
Setting up, managing and teaching in a small private preschool has many challenges, however it is very rewarding when you see the enormous benefits that a small owner-operated centre brings to children.
This is my story.
I trained as a kindergarten teacher in the 70s and spent 2
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles

Affordability of Quality Early Childhood Education and Care
The cost of early childhood education and care is a highly visible issue. This paper argues that much of this issue of affordability of quality early childhood education and care stems from the marketisation and the growth of for-profit services.

Field-Based Early Childhood Student Teachers – Who Are They and What Challenges Do They Face?
This research examines the demographic characteristics of students who choose to do field-based early childhood education teacher training and identifies challenges they face in relation to gender, career choice and academic expectations. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.

Supported Playgroup Located on School Grounds: Developing Family Relationships Within a School Environment to Support Children’s Transition to School
A supported playgroup located on school grounds: Developing family relationships within a school environment to support children’s transition to school.
Marianne Knaus and Judy Warren. Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.
Full reference: Knaus, M. & Warren, J. (2015). A supported playgroup located on school grounds: Develop

Effective Transition to School: Integrating Philosophy, Pedagogy and Curriculum
Research on how primary school classrooms can support children’s transition from early childhood education to the school setting. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
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