Report highlights risks of Government policies for young children

A report showing that there is an increased risk for young children in full-time childcare highlights the risks of the Government’s “bums on seats” approach to funding early childhood education, says NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Louise Green.

In 2010 the Government froze funding and at the same time removed funding for 100 percent qualified teachers in ECE.

“Since then early childhood services committed to maintaining 100 percent qualified teachers have struggled and there has been a massive increase in private services that do not have 100 percent qualified teachers.”

The Brainwave report says that the quality of early childhood education is most important for those who are vulnerable but that vulnerable children are less likely to have access to it.

“We know quality ECE is crucial for young children and that poor quality ECE has cumulative and ongoing negative effects.”

“That’s why the Government needs to lift its funding freeze on early childhood education and reinstate funding for centres and kindergartens so that all teachers can be qualified.

“This shows the damage to children of a policy that has a quantitative target of having 98 percent of children in ECE but no provision or funding for ensuring quality.”'

The best indicators of quality ECE include qualified teaching, low teacher-to-child ratios and small group numbers.

NZEI also supports Sue Moroney’s private member’s bill to introduce 26 weeks paid parental leave so parents can choose to stay home with young babies.

ENDS

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