Tēnā koutou katoa

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

Get Unrestricted Access to NZ’s Specialist ECE NEWSROOM

National and local stories, expert analysis, commentary, and more.

Education Bulletin and Sector Notices

Free to sign-up and receive

Membership Services and Support for:

Service Providers

(Comes with free Newsroom and Research access)

Teachers

(Comes with free Newsroom and Research access)

Research

For Research users and Tertiary Education Libraries

Teacher Member Posts

This category can only be viewed by members.
baby sleeping peacefully
Learnings from Serious Incidents

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

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
volcano-eruption-jpg
Outside‑the‑Box Play Ideas

Making Volcanoes

Making Volcanoes with Children.

Children find volcanoes intriguing. 

Here are some key facts and simple information to share with children about volcanoes and geysers, along with a ‘recipe’ for making your very own fun miniature demonstration volcano. Introducing knowledge and understanding of volcanoes is a common part of teaching and

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
Young children exploring at beach and looking at shells in water.
Outside‑the‑Box Play Ideas

Beach Trip

Taking children for a trip to the beach can offer opportunities for all kinds of learning – from discovering creatures to practising building skills. Just check first that you have prepared safety plan for the excursion, including sun protection, and have more than sufficient adults to the number of children.

Try these ideas when you take a t

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
pet rock 1
Outside‑the‑Box Play Ideas

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, leading

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »

Service Provider Member Posts

This category can only be viewed by members.
Job Interview ECE Teacher.
Employer Guides and Staff Management

ECE Employer Guide to Employing and Managing Staff

The ECE Employer Guide is for all managers and persons who employ or are involved in the recruitment and employment of staff. It is a comprehensive resource with detailed information on employment matters as well as on managing your team.  

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
staff late for work parents time clock
Employer Guides and Staff Management

Staff Lateness for Work or Other Problem Behaviour

Here is what you need to know when deciding how to respond to an employee who is late for work.

Late for work – a one off or infrequent occurrence

If you pay the employer by the hour you are under no obligation to pay for time when the employee is not at work. 

If an employee is late without a reasonable exp

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
job interview
Child Protection

Values-based Interviewing as Part of the Staff Safety Check

Values-based Interviewing.

It is usual to conduct a formal interview with potential job applicants and to cover skills, experience and knowledge during the interview.  This ‘technical’ interview is important to ensure that the applicant has the skills, competencies and knowledge to meet the job description and person specifications.

F

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »

Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles

This category can only be viewed by members.
NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education journal
2017 NZIRECE Journal, No. 2, Special Issue

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.

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education journal
2018 NZIRECE Journal, No. 2

Building Capacity to Apply a Strengths Approach to Working with Vulnerable Families and Children

Research on ways early childhood educators can use a strengths based approach when working with vulnerable children and families and the ‘mind-shift’ and resources important. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
early childhood research journal online
2014 Special Policy Issue

Children’s Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction as Curriculum

Children’s Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction as Curriculum.

Dian Fikriani* and Jane Bone** * Gadjah Mada University Indonesia. **Monash University Australia.

Full Reference: Fikriani, D. & Bone, J. (2014). Children’s participation in disaster risk reduction as curriculum. NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, Spec

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
Young children making music at kindergarten.
How-to-do Research Articles and Thesis Library

How to do Action-Based Research or an Inquiry, and Writing Your Report

What is Action Research?

Action research is defined in the glossary as:  

A hands-on approach to research for change in a setting and/or to one’s own practices, thinking and knowledge. Action research can be a collaborative endeavour or carried out by an individual.

When action research is being undertaken to bring about change in a se

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »

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.
Teacher supervising infant and young child playing in playground at ECE centre.

The Office of ECE Login

Take Action!

Help spread this vital ECE information, join our free social and email groups and become a member of OECE.

pay parity funding policy

1. Share This Information

2. Follow Our Social Pages

3. Get Regular Updates

Sign up to our free newsletters.

4. Become a Member