ECE sector needs to work with government cuts

ECE sector needs to work with government cuts says industry leader

Managing director of PORSE, New Zealand’s largest In-Home Childcare organisation, Jenny Yule is suggesting that the ECE sector responds rather than reacts in the wake of calls to reassess new funding plans for childcare centres.

Changes to early childhood education will see the removal of top subsidy rates for centres where more than 80 per cent of teachers are qualified.

Delegates at the recent NZEI conference in Rotorua said it’s critical that early childhood centres are fully staffed with qualified teachers to ensure quality education.

However Ms Yule questioned the delegates’ motives.

“The sector needs to refocus on the differences between care for babies and preschool education for 3 and 5 year olds. This would take the pressure off the shortage of qualified ECE teachers being needed for under 2’s and pre schools could afford to operate with fully qualified staff.”

Ms Yule said there were large numbers of parent led services catering to under two year olds that certainly did not require fully trained and funded staff.

“We need to differentiate between the way we care for our babies and the way we educate our pre-schoolers,” Ms Yule said.

“Pushing this “bandwagon” that only qualified teachers can do this job is a supremist and costly model of exclusion that New Zealand can ill afford.”

Ms Yule said it was important that parents also felt confident and empowered to care for their babies.

“Neuro-scientific evidence proves that it is relationships and experiences in the first few years of life that shape our futures.

This means it’s vital that childcare in the first three years comes from people who will love our children regardless of their teaching qualifications.”

- ends -

© Scoop Media