Barnardos Welcomes The Beginning Of ECE Sector Review Changes And Remains Committed To Ensuring Teacher-led ECE Thrives

Barnardos Aotearoa is encouraged that Cabinet has listened, heard, and agreed to 15 changes to modernise and simplify Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulations following on from the Sector Review findings last year identifying out-of-date rules, unnecessary compliance costs and duplication of auditing.

“It’s encouraging to see the review progressing and the recommendations considered by Cabinet in such a short time. This gives us hope that tamariki are being put first, and that they will be able to access a greater quality of early care and education in Aotearoa,” says Heather Taylor, Barnardos Aotearoa Chief Operating Officer.

“We look forward to understanding the details behind the implementation of these recommendations, and we will prioritise working in partnership with the Ministry of Education to progress these into meaningful actions to make a tangible difference to long-standing community providers like Barnardos Aotearoa.”

Barnardos remains committed to teacher-led ECE and we are concerned Review Recommendations 9 and 10 could potentially dilute qualified teaching workforce and undermine the quality of education tamariki deserve.

“We believe that if you want children to be school-ready, you must put teachers in front of tamariki. At Barnardos Early Learning, our home-based visiting teachers, centre managers and management are all qualified teachers – we know this has positive impacts for learning outcomes of all the tamariki we serve and builds strong foundations for the future.”

This is about investing in tamariki, and therefore the future our Aotearoa. We know the first 2,000 days of as child’s life is crucial in their brain development and positively impacts on their life trajectory. These reforms must not come at the cost of quality teaching practice, or the safety and wellbeing of children.

Barnardos invites the Ministry of Education to engage meaningfully with the sector as the legislative and regulatory changes proceed. Barnardos wants to be part of the change that will enhance the safety, access, and integrity of teacher-led ECE in Aotearoa for all tamariki and whānau.

As a not-for-profit provider of early learning for over 55 years, Barnardos creates barrier-free access to quality early learning and brighter futures for tamariki. We are proud to have been advocating to Government for change and improvement of regulations supporting both the education and the protection of tamariki, while also ensuring the ongoing viability of ECE service provision. 

About Barnardos 
Barnardos Aotearoa is New Zealand’s leading national children’s charity, working across child and family social services, early childhood education, and systemic advocacy for children and young people. Barnardos tackles the hard stuff; family poverty and income inequality, family violence and abuse, mental health and wellbeing, equal access to early childhood education, and lack of the basics such as safe and healthy housing.

At Barnardos, thriving tamariki, whānau, and communities are at the heart of our work. We believe in the strength and resilience of tamariki and rangatahi, even when faced with profound challenges. Our values prioritise relationships, partnerships, and collaboration, and we are dedicated to creating sustainable, long-term change for children and young people across Aotearoa.

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