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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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Membership Services and Support for:
Teacher Member Posts
Different Ways to Write a Learning Story
Learning stories remain the most commonly used assessment approach, yet the way they are written can differ widely between settings. Even though teachers and home‑based educators understand the general purpose of learning stories, many still wonder what the best practice looks like and how to do them well.
Are Marbles Really Allowed in ECE Centres and Homebased?
Marbles and other small objects might seem harmless, but in ECE settings they can quickly become a serious choking hazard. We explain what the regulations actually require and give you clear indicators to help you manage these risks confidently and keep children safe.
The Kind of Teacher You Are
It all Comes Out in the Wash! Teaching Style and Thinking About The Kind of Teacher You Are. By Joy Lubawy.
Have we moved forward with the times in educating young children?
Do you remember when your Mother used to boil the copper and stir the clothes in the boiling water with a wooden stick? Gosh the clothing must have been ha
Making Pet Rocks
Making Pet Rocks.
This is a fun activity for ages 2 – 102 – so its highly suitable to involve parents and grandparents in doing too alongside their children.
This can be done inside or at an outside table. , to produce something that reflects the personal style of the creator.
Brilliant for building imagination and creativity, leadin
Service Provider Member Posts
HIV and AIDS Childcare and Confidentiality Guidelines
HIV / AIDS Children and Adults At Early Childhood Services.
In May 2012 a Northland Childcare Centre was publicly slammed when it decided to send home an HIV-positive child. The centre was criticised by the AIDS Foundation and the story made the national news over several days. The centre claimed its exclusion of the child was temporary only w
Sun Protection Measures and Responsibilities
Management of Sun Protection.
Responsibilities to Staff and Staff Responsibilities to Themselves.
Staff must practise recommended sun protection behaviours for their health and wellbeing too. Tell staff that they are never too old, and it’s never too late, to begin to protect themselves from the harmful effects of the sun.
Requirem
Transforming Difficult Relationships with Senior Staff or Committee Members
Strong relationships are essential in ECE, especially when someone in a senior role begins to dominate, micromanage or undermine others. This piece helps leaders shift their focus to building healthy, respectful working relationships through clear boundaries, trust and effective communication.
Kindergarten Girl on Slide Nearly Died From Strangulation
Slide safety.
UPDATE: Another case of strangulation showing that lessons have not yet been learnt. A child died in 2016 at Angels Childcare in Auckland due to strangulation on a slide.
An Opinion article on Slide Safety
By Dr Sarah Alexander September 1, 2010.
The mother of a young girl nearly strangled after being caught in a rope
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
The State of Play in Early Childhood Policy: A Note from Australia
The State of Play in Early Childhood Policy: A Note from Australia.
Frances Press. Charles Sturt University, New South Wales.
Full Reference: Press, F. (2014). The State of Play in Early Childhood Policy: A Note from Australia. NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 17, 11 – 20.
Invited Country Note
Abstr
Contents – NZ International Research in ECE Journal, 2021, Vol 23, No. 1
This issue brings together research on critical reflection, emotional labour in early years practice, SENCo influences, equity‑focused policy work, toddlers’ emotional literacy, and teacher education during COVID‑19.
Strengthening Policy Implementation and System Coordination for Equitable Early Childhood Development in Fiji
Full reference: Tiko, L. (2025). Strengthening policy implementation and system coordination for equitable early childhood development in Fiji. NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 27, 83-96.
Login to read the full research paper below. Or order a pdf copy of the article from the main NZIRECE Journal page.
Abstract
This paper critically explores the challenges and opportunities in strengthening policy implementation and system coordination for equitable Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Fiji. It interrogates the effectiveness of the 2024 to 2028 National ECD Policy and the 2025 Pre-Primary Policy, focusing on persistent disparities in resource distribution, professional development, and infrastructure between urban and rural ECE centres. The paper highlights fragmented inter-ministerial coordination among the Ministries of Education, Health, and Women and Children, revealing operational silos and inconsistent planning mechanisms. Situated within the broader context of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the analysis emphasises the importance of culturally grounded, community-led approaches rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems. The commentary calls for a paradigm shift in ECD policy implementation, one that centres equity, resilience, and local agency to build inclusive and sustainable early childhood systems across Fiji and the Pacific.
Key words: Early Childhood Development, Policy Implementation, System Coordination.
The Wellbeing of Pacific Children and Families: Foregrounding Culture, Language, and Identity Formation in ECE
Research on health and wellbeing of Pacific children in NZ early childhood education, and factors that impede or enable better health and wellbeing. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
What We Do
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