Operating at the legal staffing ratios places children at risk
I’m hearing stories of a boom in planning for and
New figures show the early childhood education sector remained largely
Nearly 800 serious incidents in ECE Services in 2024
NEWS/ANALYSIS.
3 July 2025.
Alleged cases of child abuse or neglect, accidents, fraud and weather events were among 796 serious incidents early childhood education services reported to the Ministry of Education last year.
Health and safety issues were the most common type of incidents in ECE reported to the Ministry of Education
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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
April 12, 2013. At a Kindercare centre 156 vaccinations were provided today for children and staff after a child was diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Dr
Jade Bollond. March 10, 2014. Jade Bollond always had a passion for early childhood teaching, which he pursued in high school, but his life took
Updated April 2026 with the latest guidance from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the ECE regulator.
Privacy requirements have tightened, and every early childhood service must now ensure its policies fully meet the Privacy Act 2020. Out‑of‑date or incomplete policies can put your service at risk – and undermine the trust families place in you.
To help you stay compliant, this page includes a ready‑to‑use sample policy template you can adapt for your service, along with practical guidance on what must be included under the latest 2026 expectations.
Log in with your member details to access the full content. If your service’s membership has lapsed or you’d like to join, get in touch and we’ll help you get set up quickly.
Early childhood services must meet the requirements of the Privacy Act 2020. Understanding and implementing the Act’s requirements allow services to protect and respect the privacy of children, their family whānau, and staff.
New licensing criteria for early childhood education (ECE) services have now taken effect. Sector experts say the update is a missed opportunity to improve safety and quality, describing it as little more than a renumbering exercise.
Regulation review recommendations contravene children’s rights, says international ECE regulation expert NEWS/OPINION – 30 September 2025. An international expert in ECE governance says the recommendations put
“Shaping our Future”: The submission to the Ministry for Regulation of a grouping of service providers and their representatives.
A group of service providers and lobby groups want ECE services to be left to run themselves as they see fit.
They made a submission, titled “Shaping our Future” to the Ministry for Regulation calling for a self-regulation and monitoring scheme – the object of which would be to ensure that regulatory responsibility is not concentrated in the hands of the Ministry of Education (or any other government agency).
They include NZ Kindergartens Inc, Te Rito Maioha, Barnardos, a Home Base Childcare Association, and a group led by Kelly Seaburg (New Shoots) which has some of NZ’s biggest private operators like Busy Bees, Kindercare, and Evolve Education.
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