A clear and well‑structured Fees Policy helps early childhood services maintain fairness, transparency, and financial stability.
It supports families to understand how fees are set and applied, reducing confusion and strengthening trust.
By using the accompanying guidance and the template, your service can easily create a policy that is consistent, compliant, and tailored to the needs of your service and families in your community.
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
Ministry of Education Lack of Enforcement on Ventilation. July 27, 2022. By law early childhood centres must have adequate ventilation (natural or mechanical) that allows
“World Teachers’ Day is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the dedication, passion, and fabulous work of teachers. Since 1994, this day has been celebrated annually in October to honour educators at all levels across the globe.
Co-convened by UNESCO, UNICEF, the International Labour Organization, and Education International, World Teachers
What is the importance of partnerships with parents in early education and care? An overview of research. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
If you’ve attended noho marae before, you will likely have some knowledge of the pōwhiri or mihi whakatau process, and of the specific tikanga of the marae.
If it’s your first time, you may feel nervous and keen to ensure you know what to do, to show respect to the haukainga.
Noho marae are a unique and powerful experience of learning and connectedness.
Many ECE teams attend noho marae. This may be for professional development, team building, wānanga, connecting with tangata whenua or all of these reasons! Noho marae are also usually included in initial Teacher Education programmes.
Pōwhiri Process
Pōwhiri are important welcoming ceremony which welcome manuhihi onto a marae.
We provide a policy template as well as highlighting the main issues for your team to discuss and ensure your policy is practical, protective and aligned with the realities of social media use in New Zealand early childhood settings.
Make time to think through the key considerations, risks and decisions involved.
At the end of this article, you will find a Social Media Policy template that you can adapt and use to create a policy that suits your service’s needs, values and social media practices.
When used well, social media can strengthen communication, build community and serve as a powerful marketing tool. When used poorly, it can compromise privacy, blur professional boundaries and damage trust.
Social media refers to Internet based tools that allow users to publish information, opinions, images and other content. In New Zealand early childhood settings, the most commonly used platforms include
The right scholarship can remove huge financial barriers and get you into the teaching profession faster. If you’re thinking about becoming an early childhood teachers, these TeachNZ and Education Workforce scholarships could be the support that makes your ECE career possible.
Help spread this vital ECE information, join our free social and email groups and become a member of OECE.
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