Sue Moroney Early Childhood Education Spokesperson

23 November 2010

Media Statement

More broken promises on ECE as families face more changes

The Government is continuing to break its election promises by suddenly deciding to allow early childhood education centres to charge families an optional fee for using the 20 hours free scheme, says Labour's ECE spokesperson Sue Moroney.

Education Minister Anne Tolley today confirmed that centres can charge families using 20 hours free ECE for having more qualified staff than the regulated minimum.

That decision is in stark contrast to the Ministry of Education's previous policy, said Sue Moroney.

"Documents, revised as recently as July this year, said centres were not allowed to put optional charges on parents. That's because the cost of qualified and registered teachers was already recognised in funding subsidy rates.

"Those rates have now been cut by the National Government and a newly amended version of the ECE funding handbook has been released, without the provision preventing optional charges. Ministry officials have been informing ECE services they can now charge families to make up the difference," said Sue Moroney.

"It's no wonder National removed the word free from Labour's 20 hours free ECE policy. They had no intention of keeping their election promise to keep the policy intact, including the existing subsidies and fee controls.

"It has been clear since May that they have reneged on keeping the existing subsidies for 20 hours free ECE - now they have removed a vital fee control as well.

"Their budget cuts which take effect from February are causing ECE services to increase their fees and reduce quality. Families have right to feel betrayed by a Government who made promises regarding our young children and continue to break those promises."

ENDS

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