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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
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Teacher Member Posts

Zoo Trip
Zoo Trip With Children.
Everybody loves a cuddly furry animal, so the zoo is a great destination for a day trip for adults and children.
Here are some ideas to make the most of a zoo safari.
The zoo offers children the chance to see exotic animals they may never otherwise encounter. Before or after the visit, talk about the type of

Sexual Abuse Disclosure by Children
Supporting Children’s Disclosure of Sexual Abuse. By Eric Hollis.
Many parents either are not aware that their child could be a victim at some time of sexual abuse or feel at a loss to know how to protect their children from possible sexual abuse. However, with as many as 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 8 boys falling prey to predators in New Zealand,

Sports and Large Muscle Physical Activities
Sports in the Early Childhood Curriculum.
Have you ever heard a sports coach or commentator describe something good a player did saying, “that is natural talent, you can’t teach that”. This article argues that through the artistry of teaching there is a way it can be taught… the early childhood educator’s way!
Sports are a huge p

Telling Parents Only What We Think They Want to Hear About Their Child
Lying to Parents About their Child in Early Childhood Education and Childcare.
As early childhood teachers, how often and why are we lying to parents about their child?
We are constantly making judgements on what information to give parents about their children and what information to withhold. But in whose best interests are we acting
Service Provider Member Posts

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.

Interview Questions for Teaching Job Applicants
This article goes over the broad areas to cover when interviewing an applicant and questions interviewers have found work.
When interviewing for a teaching position try to cover at least the following broad areas:
Prior work experience and reasons for any gaps in the applicant’s work record.Qualifications, when, where, how, areas of

Case Studies of Centres that Successfully Completed Self-Review
Self-Review and The Quality Journey: Is there a Leader at the Helm? By Anne Grey.
This article explores the role of the leader in early childhood centre self-review.
Two case studies of centres that had successfully completed self-review in the previous twelve-month period were undertaken. The leader of each centre was interviewed, the

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
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles

Breach of Trust – Getting it Right for Children in Early Childhood Care and Education in Ireland
Breach of Trust – Getting it Right for Children in Early Childhood Care and Education in Ireland.
Mary Moloney. Mary Immaculate College, Ireland.
Full Reference: Moloney, M. (2014). Breach of trust – Getting it right for children in early childhood care and education in Ireland. NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal. Special

Talking with Children in Prams and Supermarket Trolleys While Shopping
Abstract:
Children’s language development is influenced by the amount and quality of interactions that they are immersed in. This study investigated the parent-child interactions that occur when parents accompany young children in prams while moving between shops. Overall, minimal levels of interaction were observed between p

How to write a good abstract and guidelines for reviewers of abstracts and paper or conference proposals
Writing a good abstract and what to look for if you are reviewing abstracts or conference paper proposals.
Guideline on Abstract Writing and Review
An abstract for a research paper should be sharply focused, concisely written and identify the major aspects of the research to be covered in the proposed session. Reviewing an abstract for a rese

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
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