Don’t be fooled into saying or using “early learning” to describe early childhood services or our sector. This article explains why early childhood education is a broader and more meaningful concept. If you want to understand the real difference between the two terms – and why it matters for children, parents and teachers – this is an essential read.
The journal is indexed in Scopus and available internationally through Informit, as well as through New Zealand tertiary libraries and many university libraries internationally.
The Code of Conduct applies to all licensed early childhood services throughout NZ Aotearoa, including centre-based, home-based, and hospital-based. It sets out the standards that families can right expect of any licensed ECE service.
The ECE Parent Survey gives every licensed service (centres, home‑based, and hospital‑based) a simple, confidential way to understand what families truly think. Because it’s research‑based, easy to use, and free for many services, it’s an invaluable tool for strengthening quality, meeting consultation requirements, and building strong partnerships with parents and whānau.
Early Reading Together® supports ECE teachers to run effective literacy workshops that strengthen how families talk, read, and learn together. This proven, research‑based programme is practical, enjoyable, and gives services simple, powerful ways to boost children’s early language and reading development.
The early childhood education services identified with compliance failures and subject to regulator actions in 2025. This includes the full list of named ECE services and key insights into regulatory responses and sector oversight.
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.
Packing a lunch‑box can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to meet ECE food‑safety rules and still send food your child will happily eat. This guide gives you clear, practical tips that remove the guesswork and help you feel confident your child’s lunch is safe, nutritious, and fully ECE‑ready.
The key elements that decades of international research show are essential for high‑quality early childhood education. If you want to understand why ratios, group size and teacher training – the “iron triangle of quality” – matter so much for children’s development, this is a clear and valuable guide.
The national three-yearly ECE Quality and Employment Survey gives a clear snapshot of what ECE teachers across NZ report about their workplaces and the quality of care children receive. It’s essential reading for anyone wanting an accurate picture of real sector conditions and the issues shaping ECE.
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.
Early childhood services must follow a national curriculum called “Te Whāriki”, yet most parents and school teachers don’t know it exists. This article explains what it is, why play is part of learning, and answers the big questions people have when they first hear about it.
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