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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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Membership Services and Support for:
Teacher Member Posts
Co-construction, Problem-Solving, Scaffolding and Hypothesising
The early childhood years are a busy, exciting time. New discoveries, skills and competencies are a regular part of life for a young child. Early…
Earthquake Drills, the Turtle Drop and Best Practice
Earthquake Drills and the Turtle Drop OPINIONBy Warwick Marshall A big earthquake shakes while you’re in the kitchen at your house. What do you do? …
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…
The Professional Development and Support Needs of Newly Qualified ECE Teachers
Too Much, Too Soon? The Multiple Roles and Identities of Newly Qualified Early Childhood by Helen Aitken. Read the full paper below. Or to order…
Service Provider Member Posts
Financial Survival and Growth Tips for ECE Services
Strategies to help stabilise service finances, reduce pressure and make smarter operational decisions. Learn also about opportunities for growth to strengthen your service's long‑term sustainability…
Record of Meetings – Writing the Minutes
This explains why and how to keep a record of meetings and what to record when writing the minutes. Why take Minutes Keeping a record…
Sandpit – Safety, Hygiene and Health
Sandpit safety and hygiene. There are many potential safety problems and hazards in regard to sandpits. Sandpit Safety. Ensure that active supervision of children in…
A Tree Fell at a Centre and WorkSafe and MoE Heard It
A tree fell on children in an early childhood centre and for the first time ever Worksafe prosecuted an ECE service. Four children and one…
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
“It is a Risk, But it is a Risk Worth Taking”: Early Childhood Teachers’ Reflections on Review of Practice Using an Approach of Practical Philosophy
FULL REFERENCE: Grey, A. (2015). “It is a risk, but it is a risk worth taking”: Early childhood teachers’ reflections on review of practice using…
Building a Shared Language of Coping: Dynamics of Communication between Parents and Preschool Children
This paper extends the current literature on social emotional development in the early years by providing an understanding of how young children comprehend and talk…
Contents – NZ International Research in ECE Journal, 2017, Vol 20, No. 1
This issue explores diverse curriculum perspectives, from debates about Te Whāriki’s role to Indigenous Fijian knowledge pathways, Bangladeshi curriculum development, multi‑dimensional pedagogical growth, inclusive practice,…
Should We Consider Rhizomatic Thinking When Educating Young Minds?
FULL REFERENCE: Cliffe, J. and Solvason C. (2019). Should we consider rhizomatic thinking when educating young minds? NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal,…
What We Do
The Office of ECE drives high-quality care, learning and teaching for all infants and young children and high-quality working environments for teachers and service providers.
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