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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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Education Bulletin and Sector Notices
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Teacher Member Posts
Child E-Portfolios
E-Portfolios in Early Childhood Education. By Julia Button.
This article describes and discusses the use and place of e-portfolios in early childhood education. Considerations for using e-portfolios and limitations are outlined. A special section looks at the involvement and contribution of families and others to children’s e-portfolio
SUDI – Death of an Infant when Sleeping
Sleep in ECE and Reducing the Risk of (SUDI): Learnings and What’s Legally Required versus Best Practice.
For years, the OECE’s chief advisor Dr Sarah Alexander has feared that a child would die from sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) in an early childhood education (ECE) setting. Now that has happened: An infant died from SUDI while
Early Childhood Teaching Theories – “Putting the Cog into Cognitive”
Early Childhood Teaching Theories.
During teacher education programmes, lecturers introduce students to the joys of studying a range of theorists. But many teachers appear to put theoretical perspectives of practice behind them immediately the essay-writing is over.
The purpose of this article is to breathe life into the work of t
Teaching Science and Children’s Scientific Learning
Teaching Science and Children’s Scientific Learning. By Rachel Pratt.
How many times do you walk into a centre that has a table in the corner, which is beautifully set up with magnifying glasses, natural materials, and posters about a certain scientific process? And how often do you see children using it?
It’s great to have a science
Service Provider Member Posts
No-Cost Advertising and Service Promotion
Marketing and Promotion.
Competition from other service providers in your area should not result in your service closing its doors. If you provide a quality service, do your home-work and develop a plan to keep children and attract new families.
The standard marketing and advertising advice is:
1. Develop a plan.
2. Consider c
How To Have Better Committee Meetings
Better Committee Meetings.
“Not another time-waster meeting!” – have you heard a comment like this?
I have observed and participated in some great committee and board meetings at early childhood services and no meeting has to be a time-waster or boring.
It can be done.
You can bring energy, heart, managem
Lockdown Policy and Procedures
ECE Service Lockdown Policy Template and Procedures.
The terror incident in Christchurch in March 2019 prompted many ECE services to review their lockdown procedures, leaving us questioning whether we are well-prepared for situations where we may need to go into lockdown.
Some services in Christchurch found themselves unprepared, part
Shade and Outdoor Planning for Sun Protection
Below are tips and recommendations for creating and maintaining effective and acceptable shade in outdoor play areas. This is important in conjunction with other methods for protecting children’s skin and eyes from the harmful effects of the sun over summer.
Attention is drawn here to different problems such as tree branches breaking and falli
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
STEM in Early Childhood Education: Using the Inquiry approach to Scaffold Learning
Research on why and how to start STEM in early childhood education, with hands-on learning and using an inquiry approach. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
Exploring Educator and Parent Perceptions of the Impact of Digital Technologies on Young Children’s Physical Literacies
Full reference: Davis, T. (2025). Exploring educator and parent perceptions of the impact of digital technologies on young children’s physical literacies. NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 27, pp. 31-42.
Login to read the full research paper below. Or order a pdf copy of the article from the main NZIRECE Journal page.
ABSTRACT:
Digital technologies are increasingly present in early childhood settings, raising questions about their effects on young children’s physical literacy development. Physical literacy – encompassing physical competence, confidence, motivation, and understanding to engage in physical activity – is crucially developed in the early years. This article reports on a doctoral research project exploring how educators and parents perceive the impact of digital technology use on the physical literacies of children from birth to five years. A literature review highlights international and Australasian perspectives on digital technology integration in early childhood education and the concept of physical literacy in the early years, revealing a gap in research on stakeholder perceptions at this intersection. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory provide the theoretical framework, situating children’s technology experiences within layered environmental contexts and sociocultural interactions. A qualitative, interpretive case study with a phenomenological lens is proposed, using semi-structured interviews with educators and parents in an Australian kindergarten and a long day care centre. The article argues that understanding adult perceptions can support more intentional, balanced integration of digital technologies.
Key words: Digital technologies; physical literacy; teacher perceptions; parent perceptions.
Pedagogical Development in Long Day Care Centres
The results of an investigation into the efficacy of a suite of different learning options for teachers and leaders/ directors intended to improve preschool programme quality. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
Designing An Early Childhood Study and Starting It!
Designing Your Study and How to Get Started
Here are articles we think will help advise you best on designing early childhood research and support you with helpful tips through any tough times.
Start by checking out all the published articles in the NZ-International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal on this website (over 25 years
What We Do
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