New licensing criteria for early childhood education (ECE) services have
New data shows a dramatic decline in regulatory action against
The ECE sector has delivered an unexpected bright spot in
Who is Who and Does What in Relation to the
Asthma is quite common among children but many of them will grow out of it as they get older. Around one in four New Zealand children show signs of asthma at some time.
This article tells you about the known causes of asthma, treatments, when a child may or may not have asthma, and practical ways of improving the home and early childhood centre
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Kindergarten Teachers’ Collective Agreement (KTCA) Terms of Settlement. Before you vote on the KTCA offer agreed by NZEI and the Ministry of Education, check the
A young child was left alone in a locked early childhood centre van for almost 50 minutes after an excursion in 2022.
The incident was only made public in 2026, raising major accountability questions.
Budget 2025 Thursday, 22 May 2025. Press Release: OECE. Funding for ECE going backwards, as Budget cost adjustment lags miles behind inflation. The Office of
High Childcare Costs. October 12, 2016. Many parents find that childcare can be rather pricey – especially with weekly fees as much as $360 –
Full reference: Harper-Hooper, W. (2025). Advocating anti-bias practices in early childhood education. NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 27, pp. 43-55.
Login to read the full research paper below. Or order a pdf copy of the article from the main NZIRECE Journal page.
ABSTRACT:
This article examines the integration of anti-bias education, multicultural pedagogy, and Social Learning Theory within early childhood education, with a focus on fostering inclusive, equitable, and socially just learning environments. Grounded in the view that bias is socially constructed and learned, anti-bias education offers a critical framework for supporting children’s identity development, empathy, and engagement with diversity from the early years. Informed by Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, the paper explores how young children internalise inclusive values through observation, modelling, and guided interaction. Play-based learning is identified as a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive approach for embedding these values within everyday practice. Through intentional role-play, storytelling, and collaborative exploration, children are supported to examine difference, challenge stereotypes, and develop inclusive ways of thinking and relating. The paper outlines practical strategies, including inclusive curriculum design, culturally sustaining resources, family and community engagement, and educator reflection, that contribute to equitable learning experiences. It also presents assessment approaches that capture children’s understanding of diversity and inclusion through observation, artefacts, and caregiver input. In the Aotearoa New Zealand context and globally, where increasing diversity and persistent inequities shape the early childhood education landscape, this article underscores the educator’s role as a reflective, relational, and intentional agent of change. It concludes by advocating for ongoing professional learning and collaboration to advance transformative early childhood education practices rooted in equity, belonging, and social justice.
Key words: Anti-bias education, pedagogy, play-based learning, multicultural education, social learning theory.
Montessori Rudolf-Steiner and Kindergarten. By Dr Sarah Alexander. Montessori Montessori early childhood centres or schools are different to walk into from most kindergartens and other
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