Speaking Up — Voices in ECE
Why We’re Building More ECE Centres Than We Need
I’m hearing stories of a boom in planning for and construction of new early childhood education centres. It’s not being driven by rising child numbers.
First‑hand accounts from parents, teachers, service owners, and the public about life in the early childhood sector. Honest, sometimes difficult stories that reveal strengths, gaps, and issues that need attention. Read, reflect, and share.
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I’m hearing stories of a boom in planning for and construction of new early childhood education centres. It’s not being driven by rising child numbers.
The experience of Australia is a timely reminder to us in NZ Aotearoa of the danger of reducing standards. A year ago, the Ministry for Regulation (recommended making many of the present regulations ‘advisories’ only.
As I entered the children’s toilet area to change my son’s nappy before taking him home, I quickly figured out why our family had been getting tummy bugs so often.
When I first visited the centre in which I would enrol my son, I marvelled at the incredibly healthy, wholesome and varied meals prepared by the in-house chef.
How are relievers in early childhood centres treated? This article is published in the OECE’s speaking-up series. 28 April 2025. The writer has asked to
Spot Checks: Protecting Safety and Standards This opinion article is published as part of our ‘Speaking-up‘ series By Bonnie Te Ara Henare. 11 December 2024.
Force‑feeding is a hidden harm in early childhood settings – this piece exposes why it happens, why speaking up is so hard, and why children urgently need adults to break the silence.
High teacher turnover and the Centre owner had the attitude that if parents didn’t like how it was managed, they could leave This opinion article
Unsafe for Parents to Complain when Child Receives Bad Care This opinion article is published as part of our ‘Speaking-up‘ series October 21, 2021. By
David Haynes sounds a clear warning that treating primary teaching qualifications as equivalent to ECE training undermines the specialised expertise that early childhood education relies on. His article urges the government to reconsider this policy direction before it causes lasting harm to the quality and integrity of the ECE sector.
I am an a home-based educator. I work under contract with no income protection and no protection under labour laws.
I have worked for the agency for 7 years. I’ve worked seven days a week every Xmas and Easter and all other stat holidays.
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