Budget 2004: Early Childhood Education Funding

Budget 2004: Early Childhood Education Funding

Children the winners says New Zealand Kindergartens

Children under five are set to be the winners this budget with significant additional funding announced for the early childhood sector says New Zealand Kindergartens.

Kindergartens are the largest national provider of early childhood education for children aged three to five with an enrolment of around 45 thousand children.

In the budget announcement today, children under five will be entitled to twenty free hours of early childhood education.

The free hours are available to all children attending a kindergarten or community based, not for profit early childhood education centre.

The entitlement will take effect from July 2007.

"Over the years thousands of New Zealand children have had access to affordable, quality early childhood education at kindergarten.

Now parents will have even more choice of quality, affordable early childhood education for their children - everyone wins," said Sharon Walch, National Spokesperson for New Zealand Kindergartens.

"We are thrilled the Government is honoring their commitment to the sector and acknowledging how important quality early childhood education is to families."

"The funding creates more exciting opportunities for Kindergartens to continue to focus on providing a dynamic, friendly, learning environment for children," she said.

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