Retention of Records: Paperwork and what’s Required to be Kept by the Ministry and Various Agencies, including IRD and the Charities Commission.
Issues of safety, privacy, and storage.
Early childhood service reports and records should always be kept in a safe place and not in someone else’s home, car, or workplace. In case of fire it
Not a member? Service owners, managers, and community organisations may apply to join as a service provider.
It is prestigious to belong to the OECE. Membership is usually by invitation. Online applications can be made if you think your service meets the criteria. To be a member a service must have as its first priority a focus on being high-quality for children and families. It must also agree to follow the standards in the Code of Conduct for ECE Services.
Running a parent survey when you want to do one is simple – we handle it for you and provide you with a confidential copy of the results. We will also cover the cost of the survey.
Promoting your service online to parents is taken care of. The OECE has partnered with the My ECE website and the ECE Parents’ Council Aotearoa to give members free advertising for their service. For details directly contact My ECE
Free subscription access to the ECE Newsroom – your service provider member login will let you view everything in the ECE Newsroom.
Complimentary access to over 25 years of published NZ and international research – your service provider member login gives you free access to the Research Library and support.
Management and ECE employment resources and advice will be at your finger-tips 24/7. We have so much available in the service provider area of our website – ranging from templates for policies, guidance on managing cashflow and debtors, staff drug use, negotiating pay with staff, and through to topics such as best sandpit design.
We will make running a staff survey simple for you. You can use our specially designed survey. We collect the results and will provide you with a confidential report of the findings. (50% discount available to service provider members).
Did you know that the OECE meets personally and regularly with the Ministry of Education national team, and the regulations committee and other forums?
Political leaders and journalists are able to use the OECE to gain deeper knowledge on a topic or issue, and we provide a sounding board for ideas and feedback.
Members have a direct line of communication with Dr Sarah Alexander, to bring to Sarah’s attention and discuss what’s affecting your service and community of children, families, and staff.
We are committed to keeping membership prices affordable and providing value for money.
Membership rates start at just $250 for 12-months. Or join for 2 years for only $350. For providers with multiple licensed services, the rates reduce per service the more licensed services you operate.
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Anyone thinking about getting a job in ECE working in ECE or thinking about moving to a different service will find clear, practical information in this article about pay rates, employment conditions, and what to expect in different roles. It explains everything from starting salaries and pay‑step calculations to workplace rights, benefits, and how to recognise a supportive, professional environment.
Discover the key organisations and sector groups shaping early childhood education in New Zealand – who they are, what they do, and how they influence the services, policies, and people at the heart of the ECE sector.
Getting a job. How can my ECE qualification help me to get a job? With an early childhood teaching qualification you may find yourself attractive
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
FULL REFERENCE: Keepa C., and Vaughan, C. (2026). He Aka Matua: Navigating the Shifting Tides of Associate Teacher Mentoring and Leadership in Early Childhood Practicum. NZ-International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 28(1), 87-93.
ABSTRACT: This paper examines the critical yet under-researched role of Associate Teachers (ATs) as mentors and leaders in early childhood practicum. It explores how ATs conceptualise their professional identities, particularly through a Kaupapa Māori lens. Reflecting on how anecdotal differences in student experiences prompted the development of the “He Aka Matua” project at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, the authors detail a mixed-methods study grounded in relationality and reciprocity. The article argues for recognising ATs as leaders of learning, seeking to strengthen ITE partnerships and support culturally responsive mentoring for emerging teachers.
Log-in to read the full research paper below. Or order a pdf copy of the article from the main NZIRECE Journal page.
KEY WORDS: Associate teacher, mentoring, professionalism, student teacher, initial teacher education, leadership, Kaupapa Māori lens.
INTRODUCTION
Practicum experiences are widely recognised as a critical component of Initial Teacher Education (ITE), providing student teachers with opportunities to integrate theoretical learning with professional practice. According to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (2019), an Associate Teacher (AT) is a teacher in an educational setting who “supervises” (p. 5) a student teacher on professional experience placement (practicum). AT’s in Aotearoa New Zealand are qualified early childhood teachers employed within early childhood education (ECE) centres and play a pivotal role in shaping these experiences as qualified teachers who mentor and guide student teachers. ATs act as both role models and leaders of pedagogical practice within early childhood settings. Their mentoring contributes significantly to the professional identity, confidence, and capability of emerging teachers.
Kindergarten Democracy Missing. Opinion Editorial. Dr Sarah Alexander. 4 October 2017. The Auckland Kindergarten Association is at the precipice of completely losing its community roots.
Family learning sessions highlight how much parents shape their children’s development and how early childhood teachers can strengthen that impact by meaningfully engaging families. This article is essential reading for New Zealand ECE teachers because it shows why adopting these approaches can deepen partnerships with parents and enrich learning beyond the ECE setting.
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
When 20 Hours “Free” ECE comes into effect, it promises to boost participation but the reality may be far more complicated. This opinion piece unpacks the policy’s likely consequences, including impacts that the Government and families may not have fully considered,
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