Playcentre looks forward to answers on Free ECE

17 June 2007

NZ's oldest parent-led early childhood education provider looks forward to government answers on Free ECE

How is government going to ensure three and four year olds who attend Quality Parent-led ECE services get the same opportunity for free education as those who choose teacher-led services?

Playcentre, is an organisation that has provided high quality early childhood education to New Zealand families for over 60 years. In the Competent Child Study, the landmark longitudinal study of effects on children of various ECE experiences, Playcentre has consistently come out in the group producing the highest benefits to children over both the short and long term.

"While the 20 hours free scheme is designed around freeing up parents to allow them to re-enter the work force, it does not allow or provide for those parents who choose to stay at home and take a positive hands-on role in the pre school education of their children” said Playcentre Federation President, Marion Pilkington. "Playcentre is about family. Having parents and children learn together produces a quality environment that research has shown has very positive outcomes – both for the parent and the children. Surely this must be a goal of any government concerned about the future of our nation?"

Evidence from the Competent Child study showed that Playcentre children did particularly well in scores for persistence and in maths and literacy. Two Playcentre’s are involved in the Ministry of Educations “Centres of Innovation” research scheme. In addition, at a time when the EC sector is aware of a chronic shortage of male role models, Playcentre can boast the highest participation of men in the early childhood education sector.

Despite this evidence of the high quality of education they provide, Playcentres will not be eligible for the Government's scheme of 20 hours free, which is supposed to ensure that all parents have access to high quality ECE. While Playcentre supports the intent of this policy to guarantee all three and four year 20 hours free education per week, Playcentre members would like to know when early childhood education will be free for those parents of three and four year olds who choose Playcentre as their preferred provider of quality early childhood education.

"All we seek is the Government to acknowledge Playcentre as a quality early childhood provider and allow all three and four year olds the right to free ECE" said Ms Pilkington.

ENDS

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