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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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Teacher Member Posts
Parent-Child Attachment
Supporting Parent-Child Attachment.
A strong attachment with an adult is as essential to a child as air, food and water. Healthy child development is unlikely without it.
The Ministry of Health reports that mental health and behavioural problems are rising across all socio-economic groups.
What effect could stronger pa
Winter and Rainy Day Activities
Winter and Rainy Day Children’s Activities.
When the children are getting restless and the noise levels are going up and up and you are thinking about how to get through the day, it’s time to bring in some new ideas and fresh activities.
Here’s help. Below are lots of teacher ideas of experiences you can give to children and activities t
Learning Languages in ECE from a Young Age
Learning languages in early childhood education is important – whether it is connecting with parts of our own kiwi culture or embracing other languages.
With families coming to New Zealand from all over the world it is also important to recognise that English and/ or Māori may not be the main language/s in the home of some families.
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Plane Spotting and Tracking
Plane Spotting at the ECE Service.
Going plane spotting is easy. You can do this now without leaving home or your early childhood service.
There are thousands of learning possibilities…
Technology – tracking planes, use of real timeGeography – different countriesMaths – comparing land masses, number of planes, altitude, speed, di
Service Provider Member Posts
CCTV and Security Camera Policy
The Office of ECE provides this CCTV policy template and guidance to help services using indoor or outdoor security cameras meet their legal obligations under the Privacy Act, the Children’s Act, and other key legislation.
With camera use under increasing scrutiny, every service that operates CCTV in areas where children or staff may be present needs clear, transparent procedures to ensure lawful, ethical, and defensible practice. Gaps in your policy can put your service and the trust of families, at risk.
Log in with your member details to access the full guidance and template. If your service’s membership has lapsed or you’d like to join, get in touch and we’ll help you get set up quickly.
Home‑based providers may also use this template to develop a policy for educators who have security cameras operating in their family homes.
Trusted Woman ECE Centre Teacher Engaged in Sexual Exploitation of Children
Indecent pictures of children, including bathroom pics, were taken by teacher “K” at her early childhood centre, using her mobile phone and shared online.
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 of meetings, by writing the minutes of the meeting, allows the time spent in a meeting to be productive, by stopping the same discussions and topics coming up that have already been well threshold. Records
When a Child’s Behaviour Gets Hard to Manage and When Enrolment May be Terminated
Top tips on what to do, what to change, and support when a child’s behaviour has become unmanageable. The circumstances in which you may cancel a child’s enrolment.
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
Research as a Journey: The New Researcher as a First-Time Traveller
Research as a Learning Journey. By Michael Gaffney. Published in NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 2002, Vol. 5, pp. 1-11
Beginning the Journey
This paper uses journey as a metaphor, and to a lesser extent problem solving, to provide a framework for understanding the activity that more early childhood practitioners are
Whiteness Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
Research on how racism and ‘whiteness’ operates within the early childhood research site and research processes. It shows ways that researchers and educators reinforce, rather than reduce the impacts of whiteness and racism, despite the best of intentions. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
Breastfeeding Support and Practices in NZ Childcare: Studies and Policy Insights
Breastfeeding support in ECE has far‑reaching implications for child health, women’s workforce participation, and equity outcomes. These studies offer evidence‑rich insights and practical guidance that can inform stronger policy, reduce discrimination, and shape more supportive early childhood environments.
Communities of Learning: Promoting Equity in ECE Policy and Practice
Research on equity ideas and strategies for teachers and kaiako to advance equitable educational opportunities for all tamariki/children. 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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