100% of Playcentre 3 and 4 year olds miss out

23 August 2007

100% of Playcentre 3 and 4 year olds miss out on Free ECE

According to Paula Bennett, the National Party spokesperson for early childhood education, 39% of three and four year olds are missing out on Free ECE. However, 100% of Playcentre children are missing out on funding for a high quality and efficient form of ECE for no other reason than that their parents choose a service that the government has chosen to ignore.

Playcentre operates on the principle of children learning with their families and it has been proven to provide good outcomes for children. “It is disappointing that the government makes a distinction that discriminates against families who want to be involved in their children's Education,” said Marion Pilkington, Playcentre Federation President. “For the last 60 years Playcentre has been providing high quality education to families around New Zealand, and they have chosen Playcentre for the range of benefits it provides.”

In advertising the Free ECE policy the government has equated quality with teacher-led services. By doing so it ignores Playcentre, an innovative, high quality form of early childhood education indigenous to New Zealand which provides education for parents as well as children.

"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” said Mrs Pilkington.

The Playcentre adult education programme equips parents to provide high quality education and develop a range of skills that enable them to contribute to their communities.

Playcentres provide sessional education to children aged birth to school entry age in 496 locations around the country. The learning programme in Playcentre is provided by groups of parents, who bring a wide range of experience and qualifications to their teaching.

ENDS

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