Early Childhood Education (ECE)

in New Zealand

- Integrated System -

Integrated system – overview no distinction between education and care

government does not own or operate ECE services

centralised authority for education and care

areas of central responsibility:

statutory regulation + associated tiers of administration

government funding

curriculum

monitoring

Policy & system development system development in New Zealand

early 1900s – some government subsidies

1960 – regulation

1974 – targeted parent support

1986 to 1990 – centralisation of subsidies, support and development of quality assurance

1990 – introduction of new funding and licensing system

1996 – Te Whāriki (bicultural ECE curriculum) officially introduced

2005 – major funding system changes

Integration sequence of integration:

revised education legislation

authority for childcare services transferred to Department of Education from Department of Social Welfare

qualifications benchmark to be phased in

Department of Education becomes Ministry of Education

funding for Māori language services transferred to Ministry of Education from Ministry of Māori Affairs

new funding system introduced

Teachers

the New Zealand Qualifications Authority manages the recognition of standards and qualifications

the New Zealand Teachers Council decides which qualifications can lead to teacher registration in ECE

the funding system is designed to incentivise increases in the number of registered ECE teachers

recently changed from a 100% target of registered teachers (in services led by teachers) by 2012 to 80%

Quality Assurance1960 – first quality assurance – a form of licensing related to physical welfare of children existed

late 1980s… – sector advocacy for recognition by government

teacher registration and monitoring through ERO / NZQA / NZTC

1990 – new funding system and licensing + Statement of Desirable Objectives and Practices

late 1980s – early 1990s – sector concerns about quality

late 1990s – 2009 changes in ECE regulations and relicensing requirements for ECE services are increasingly focused on quality of education

Policy Lessons & evaluation Policy lessons

main concerns of the sector

mandate for reform

implementation of changes via a 10 year strategic plan

Evaluation of the 10 year strategic plan initiated in 2002:

1st of 2 parts completed: monitoring of the early stages

integrated approach is successful for delivery of ECE; targeted intervention needed for those not participating