Parents Fear Funding Cuts to Home Based ECE

Parents Fear Funding Cuts to Home Based ECE

There is a growing concern from parents and teachers in the home based Early Childhood Education sector that a recent report, initiated by the Minister of Education, could result in increased childcare costs. The ECE Taskforce Report released on the 1st of June 2011 seems to only consider centre based services, such as daycare, as quality services and that all “other” services (home based childcare, playcentres and Kohanga Reo) should receive reduced funding.

There are approximately 17,000 children under 5 years of age in New Zealand enrolled in home based Early Childhood Education (ECE). Home based childcare is the fastest growing Early Childhood Education sector with growth of more than 74% over the last decade. Carol Stovold, President of the New Zealand Home Based ECE Association, attributes this growth to the flexibility, small groups sizes and dedicated attention that home based childcare provides. “More parents are choosing home based childcare because they value the nurturing, secure attachments with a dedicated educator who provides individual attention, supports focused interactions and intentional learning experiences.”

Ms Stovold says that diversity and transparency in the Early Childhood sector is critical, so parents can make informed decisions about the type of care best suited to their children’s needs and family values. “Our fear is that the changes proposed by the ECE Taskforce will limit choice for parents by creating a bias toward out-of-home, centre based care.”

A recent report by UNICEF entitled The Child Care Transition raises concerns about out of home childcare. The reports states, “Today’s rising generation is the first in which a majority are spending a large part of early childhood in some form of out-of-home child care. At the same time, neuroscientific research is demonstrating that loving, stable, secure, and stimulating relationships with caregivers in the earliest months and years of life are critical for every aspect of a child’s development.”

In the United States it is now estimated that half of all children under 1 year of age are placed in some form of out-of-home childcare (such as day care centres). The impacts of this vast change, in the way we care for our infants and young children, are not yet fully understood.

Parents who choose home based childcare believe the inherent nature of home based care, including the secure attachment relationships developed and the low ratio of care (child to educator), is quality. The US National Research Council clearly explains, “If there is a single critical component of quality, it rests in the relationship between the child and the teacher/caregiver, and in the ability of the adult to be responsive to the child.”

Recently, the Minister of Education announced that the maximum number of children in centre-based services will shortly change from 50 children to 150 children per licence. Ms Stovold explains that the home based ECE sector is concerned that a focus on cost savings will lead to fewer options for parents and a “factory style” approach to Early Childhood Education.

The New Zealand Home Based ECE Association also highlights the importance of “ease-of-access” to Early Childhood Education services. Home based childcare is especially important for rural families and children with special needs – where centre based care is either inaccessible or inappropriate.

The Ministry of Education is currently conducting an eight week public consultation period on the recommendations made in the ECE Taskforce report. The consultation began on the 15th of June 2011 and will end on the 8th of August 2011. Ms Stovold urges all parents, teachers and caregivers to provide feedback as part of this consultation process.

Key facts:
• Approx. 17,000 children enrolled in home based ECE services in New Zealand.
• Average of 1 educator to 3 or 4 children in home based services.
• Average of 35 children per registered teacher in home based childcare.
• Standard home-based services are currently funded 40% less than centre-based services. Government funding is currently based on the actual cost of delivering ECE services.
• Research suggests that home based care is beneficial to infant brain development – particularly for children under 3 years of age.
• Recent changes to the centre size regulations raised the maximum centre size that ECE services or hospital-based education and care services can be licensed for – from 50 to 150 licensed child places.
• UNICEF report The Child Care Transition
• ECE Taskforce Consultation

ENDS