Announcements and Notices for the Early Childhood Sector

Early Childhood Education Press Releases NZ

Budget 2026: Still Not Delivering for Children in ECE

Budget 2026 continues the Government’s pattern of minimal investment in

Risks are Up: Budget 2026 Must Change Course

“The early childhood sector does not need a big funding

Why Recognising Primary Training as Equivalent Undermines ECE Expertise

David Haynes sounds a clear warning that treating primary teaching

parents with their toddlers meet together

Witnessing the good and bad of ECE as a first time mum

As I entered the children’s toilet area to change my

Lowest Number of ECE Service Closures in Recent Years

The ECE sector has delivered an unexpected bright spot in

teacher in lovely interaction with small group of children. Six signs of quality early childhood education

Reducing Teacher Qualification Requirements in ECE

This paper responds to proposals for lowering qualification requirements for

Infant holds large ball at early childhood centre

ECE Participation and Child Outcomes: A Critical Review of the Evidence

This review cuts through political spin to reveal what the

2025 Annual List of ECE Services with Compliance Failures and Regulator Actions

The early childhood education services identified with compliance failures and

teacher wages, pay scales, in childcare and early childhood education

What ECE Teachers and Workers Earn: Pay, Benefits and Conditions

Anyone thinking about getting a job in ECE working in

many colours of paint concept for early childhood sector groups and early childhood education system

Who’s Who: Key Stakeholders in ECE and Organisations

Discover the key organisations and sector groups shaping early childhood

Structural Indicators of Quality including Ratios, Group Size, Trained Staff, and more

The key elements that decades of international research show are

What ECE Teachers and Workers Earn: Pay, Benefits and Conditions

Anyone thinking about getting a job in ECE working in

Jacoba Matapo interview Office of Early Childhood Education

Jacoba Matapo – ECE Under-2s Teacher to University Professor

We interview Dr Jacoba Matapo about her career and background

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

Supervision Basics: Four Skills Every Adult Working With Children Must Demonstrate

Active supervision is the single most effective way to prevent

teacher exploitation stress sad bullied work related injuries

Managing Staff Drug and Alcohol Impairment

Ensuring that staff are not impaired by drugs or alcohol

policy, procedures and policies for early childhood services

ECE Policies: What’s Required, What’s Optional, and What’s Just Paperwork

Learn the difference between the documentation ECE services are required

fees policy parent and teacher communication at pick-up and drop-off time

Staffing Rosters: Balancing Safety and Compliance at Opening and Closing

Staffing Rosters at opening and closing can make or break

ECE Employer Guide to Employing and Managing Staff

The ECE Employer Guide is for all managers and persons

Teacher Professionals Early Childhood Education

Associate Teacher and Centre Information on Supporting Student Kaiako & Payment

If you’re a qualified, registered teacher and you’re ready to

Sick Leave: ECE Employer Guide to Legal Duties, Proof, and Best Practices

ECE employers – managing sick leave is becoming increasingly complex,

unwell children can make other children sick

Illness and Infectious Disease Policy: Covering Children and Adults

Illness and infectious‑disease management is under closer scrutiny than ever,

Early childhood education financial and money matters

Fees Policy Template and Procedures: Family‑Focused and Service‑Strong

A clear and well‑structured Fees Policy helps early childhood services

Supervision Basics: Four Skills Every Adult Working With Children Must Demonstrate

Active supervision is the single most effective way to prevent

Child and teacher talking at lunch-time table in early childhood centre.

Supervision While Eating – What the Requirements Mean and the Indicators to Help You Meet Them Confidently

The “supervision while eating” criterion is often misunderstood, especially the

Casual, Fixed‑Term, or Permanent? What Early Childhood Teachers Need to Know

It’s becoming common for early childhood services to place teaching

Teacher with girls in outdoor playground feeding baby doll teacher-led centres

Sick Leave: Key Rights and Rules for Teachers and Staff

Learn your paid sick leave rights – and what every

the safety of infants and toddlers playing with marbles

Are Marbles Really Allowed in ECE Centres and Homebased?

Marbles and other small objects might seem harmless, but in

Supervision While Eating – What the Requirements Mean and the Indicators to Help You Meet Them Confidently

The “supervision while eating” criterion is often misunderstood, especially the

Tikanga in Practice

As a part of my journey I have focused on

Supervision Basics: Four Skills Every Adult Working With Children Must Demonstrate

Active supervision is the single most effective way to prevent

Teacher with girls in outside playground who are feeding their baby doll

The Concept of Tuakana-Teina dictated by Whakapapa

Within Aotearoa, NZ early childhood education pedagogy, the relationships of

Woodwork Tables, Tools, Gender Issues, and Rules

Woodworking in ECE is easier than you might think, and

learning stories children looking at their photos

Different Ways to Write a Learning Story

Learning stories remain the most commonly used assessment approach, yet

NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal

The journal is indexed in Scopus and available internationally through

ECE Participation and Child Outcomes: A Critical Review of the Evidence

This review cuts through political spin to reveal what the

Strengthening Policy Implementation and System Coordination for Equitable Early Childhood Development in Fiji

Full reference: Tiko, L. (2025). Strengthening policy implementation and system

NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal

The journal is indexed in Scopus and available internationally through

Experiencing joy as an early childhood teacher or educator

On a Joyful Note: The Practice of Attending to Joy for Educator Wellbeing

Do early childhood educators experience joy in their work with

Inclusion and equity for teachers with disabilities

The positive and negative experiences of early childhood teachers /

Call for Papers for the NZIRECE Journal

You are warmly invited to submit a paper to the

Affordability of Quality Early Childhood Education and Care

The cost of early childhood education and care is a

NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal

The journal is indexed in Scopus and available internationally through

Early Childhood Code of Conduct for Early Childhood Education Services in NZ

Code of Conduct for ECE Services

The Code of Conduct applies to all licensed early childhood

check boxes tick survey promises views planning

We Make Parent Surveys Easy for ECE Services

The ECE Parent Survey gives every licensed service (centres, home‑based,

early childhood education qualified teacher reading a book with a child. Illustrating the importance of ECE teacher qualifications.

Early Reading Together: A Practical, Proven Literacy Programme for ECE Services

Early Reading Together® supports ECE teachers to run effective literacy

ECE Services staff immunisation and vaccination

Immunisation and Vaccination Form

Working in early childhood education and care is a high

NZ Childcare Finance: Supporting Cash Flow Between Bulk Funding Payments

Bridging the Gap: Smart Finance for ECE Operators An advertorial

markers pens for young children in preschools and childcare

Marker Pens for Young Children’s Hands

Marker pens designed especially for young children’s hands Sunny Markers

Early Childhood Education Staff Survey. Manager and teacher planning at an early childhood centre service.

Staff and Teacher Survey

The Staff and Teacher Survey for licensed early childhood services

Election promises, political parties and politics of early childhood education in NZ

Political Parties: Their Election Promises & Actions

Election 2026: A Guide to Political Party Promises for Early Childhood Education

The countdown to the 2026 election is on, and early childhood education is back in the spotlight.

Some parties have already shown their hand, others are still to come, and policies will continue to shift as the campaign unfolds.

This guide keeps you in the loop and updated regularly so you can compare party positions instantly and follow how their promises evolve.

It’s your fast, reliable way to stay informed on what each party plans for ECE.

Notices

Inviting ECE Teachers to Participate in a Survey of Use of Social Networks and Online Platforms

Our names are Hazel Woodhouse and Fiona Westbrook. We are inviting early childhood teachers and kaiako to take part in a short survey exploring how ECE teachers use social networks and online platforms in their professional lives.

Bunny rabbit honey with Edmund Alexander 20 months old

Notices

Looking forward to Easter – Planning and guidance

Easter is a time many children look forward to – chocolate, a long weekend and family time – and it’s likely you’ll plan something at your early childhood service.

Notices

2026 ECE Wall Planner Calendar (with funding dates)

Featuring key dates, public holidays, events, and Ministry of Education funding deadlines, this planner helps you plan ahead with ease.

Child and teacher playing with toy farm animal block set.

Notices

TeachNZ Scholarships and Financial Help

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.

Funding tick for early childhood centres and services in NZ

Notices

The ECC’s Funding Panic: What’s Fact and What’s Spin

If you want to know whether the ECC’s alarming claims about funding shortfalls hold up and what’s actually happening behind the scenes – this is essential reading. The OECE’s review tells a very different story, making this crucial for anyone who cares about accuracy, accountability, and the future of ECE funding.