Press Release

Government's ECE Task force recommendations another blow to Playcentre.

20th July 2011

Canterbury Playcentre Association is horrified by the ECE Task force recommendation to cut funding from Parent led Early Childhood Education (ECE) organisations.

Canterbury Playcentre Association, still reeling from having a centre in the red zone and 5 centres in the orange zone, now face the prospect of having their funding cut by potentially 63% if the ECE task force recommendations go through.

Nationally Playcentre has successfully been providing Parent led early childhood and adult education for the last 70 years. There are 461 Playcentres’ throughout New Zealand with 50 Playcentres’ in the greater Canterbury area.

Laine Barker chairperson states that “Playcentre believes parents are the best first educators of their children and it is a constant cause for concern that funding providers do not recognise the unique role that parents play in their child’s life. To invest in families when their children are young is the right thing to do.”

At present parent-led ECE services are funded on average 40% less than teacher led ECE services per child per hour even though they must meet the same level of regulatory compliance and outcomes for children.

The ECE taskforce has been contracted by government to review the provision on ECE in New Zealand, with a focus on getting parents back into the workforce. The report is 100% biased towards teacher led services and has disregarded Playcentre as a quality, centre based, parent led ECE service.

The Government ECE Task force (2011) states “Early Childhood programmes that have strong parental connections have been shown to be more effective. Enabling effective parent support is therefore one of the best ways that governments can ensure good outcomes for children.” A contradiction to their own recommendations.

Playcentre calls on all political parties to support equal funding for parent led ECE services.

ENDS

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