It’s time for New Zealand to take under twos seriously

MEDIA RELEASE

18 March 2011
It’s time for New Zealand to take under twos seriously

Today’s release by the Children’s Commissioner is a timely call to take the care and education of New Zealand’s under two year olds seriously says NZCA Chief Executive Nancy Bell.

“We welcome the Children’s Commission’s findings and are pleased to see them take leadership on this issue. The report is especially timely given the government’s recent relaxation of ECE licensing requirements and potential increases to group sizes for under twos.”

“The infants and toddler group has the fastest growing number of enrolments with around 32,000 children under the age of two currently in formal ECE. Ensuring a strong regulatory framework that supports their needs is of particular concern to our members and the sector as a whole.”

“We are not surprised by the inquiry’s findings. The research on the under twos is unequivocal, young children in ECE need sustained interactions from responsive adults who are well educated in children’s learning and development patterns. These adults also need to be able to develop strong relationships with the child’s parents and whānau. The partnership between parents, whānau and qualified capable early childhood teachers ensures the best possible outcomes for young children.”

“Unfortunately, the regulated minimum standards in New Zealand are low, with the regulated adult to child ratios set at one adult to five under two year olds, with only 50% of teachers at any service required to hold a qualification. In practice, this means that many under twos do not receive the care of a qualified teacher.”

“This is compounded by the recent decision to increase license size from 50 to 150 children, enabling groups of up to 75 babies on one site. No one is yet clear how this change will be managed and there is a great deal of concern that very young children will be in very large groups. This is well known to have detrimental effects upon their development. It is time for New Zealand to take under twos seriously and strengthen the regulatory framework for care and education outside of the home.”

“The Children’s Commission inquiry provides recommendations that we strongly support and it points us in the right direction for a high quality ECE sector serving the best interests of young children and their families.”

ENDS

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