Choices

Ministry of Education. (2014)

Retrieved from
http://parents.education.govt.nz/assets/Parents/Documents/Early-Learning/ECE-Choices-Booklet.pdf
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 Why early learning is a great start Benefits of early childhood education
Early learning is the learning that happens from birth. Early childhood education (ECE) builds on your child’s
Your child learns everywhere and all the time through early learning.
everyday activities such as cooking, shopping, going ECE provides children with the chance to learn,
to the park and sharing stories and songs. You play a socialise and interact with other children and adults.
big role in your child’s early learning, even by simply It helps your child to develop into a positive, confident
talking with them. and capable person with a love of learning that will
What your child learns in the early years makes a big help them at school and throughout their life.
difference to how they learn for the rest of their lives. Your child will learn how to:
This period is when children grow and develop their • make friends
understanding of themselves as capable, competent
learners and communicators. • play and explore
• listen to others, talk about their own ideas, be
creative, and become independent
• get on better with other children and adults outside
of their immediate family
• take turns, negotiate and share
• think, problem-solve and reason
• understand their own feelings and those of others
• develop language, reading, thinking and maths
skills ready for school
• begin to understand and make sense of the world
around them.
These are important skills that help children to be
more confident and curious about the world.

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 MY
WHAT ARE
CHOICES?
Types of early learning options
There are many early learning options and
services to choose from. Some services offer
all day education and care and others offer part
day education and care or sessions.
Some services are teacher-led and some are
parent-led.
In teacher-led services the teachers are mainly
responsible for making decisions on what
children will be learning about at the service.
In parent-led services the parents and whānau
are involved in providing education and care for
the children.

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 Teacher-led services
Education and care centres Kindergartens
There are many different types of education and care Kindergartens offer a wide range of ECE services.
centres that offer ECE services. They either: While most enrolled children are aged two years and
• offer all day or part day education and care over, some kindergartens enrol younger children.
There are many different ways in which they operate
• enrol children for a set number of hours per day
including:
or by days per week
• a variety of start and finish times
• accept enrolments from birth up to school age
or subject to a specific age range. • some are open all year and some offer school
holiday programmes
Some education and care centres follow an education
philosophy, for example Rudolf Steiner, Montessori • bilingual services that promote and integrate Māori
or Reggio Emilia. language and culture
Some education and care centres offer services with a • services that promote and integrate Pasifika
focus on a language or culture. For example, Puna Reo languages and cultures.
provide an education and care environment in Māori Many kindergartens are situated on school sites or
language and culture settings. next door to a school.
At least half of the adults who educate and care for Parents and whānau can be involved in sessions,
children enrolled in education and care centres must provide practical assistance or join a parent/whānau
be qualified ECE teachers. Depending on the number group to work with the teaching team in planning and
of children attending, at least one teacher must be running the kindergarten.
ECE qualified, registered and hold a current
practicing certificate. Kindergartens are managed by a local kindergarten
association.

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Home-based early education services
Home-based ECE services have educators who
educate and care for groups of up to four children at
a time in either the educator’s home or the children’s
own home.
Home-based care might include:
• all day or part day education and care
• access to a mobile toy library
• resources to support learning
• regular outings.
All educators are supported by a coordinator who is a
qualified, registered ECE teacher and holds a current
practicing certificate.
Coordinators regularly visit the educator and
children to check on the children’s learning progress
and wellbeing.
Some coordinators may be able to help parents choose
the right educator for their child.

“My daughter is four years old.

I chose a Russian home-based
educator for her early childhood
education. It is very important that
my daughter is well cared for while
I study, and that she is able to speak
Russian and learn about Russian
culture with the educator.”

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 Parent-led services

Playcentres Te Kōhanga Reo

Playcentres are community-based ECE centres Te Kōhanga Reo offers a Māori immersion environment
run cooperatively by parents and member families. for tamariki and their whānau, and caters to tamariki
Playcentres value parents as the first and best from birth to school age.
teachers in their children’s lives and create learning The following key goals are the foundation of
communities to ensure families feel welcome. Te Kōhanga Reo Kaupapa established in 1982:
Each playcentre offers: • total immersion in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in
• learning through play for children from birth up daily operations
to school age in small mixed age groups
• whānau decision-making, management and
• half day sessions for up to five sessions a week responsibility
• free parenting education programmes • accountability
• informal parent support and mentoring to member • health and wellbeing of mokopuna and whānau.
parents.
The key goals of Te Kōhanga Reo assure that there will be:
Playcentres are part of a regional association for
management and programme support. Regional
• security of te reo Māori
associations are managed by the national New Zealand • a supportive, caring environment for mokopuna
Playcentre Federation. • whānau (collective) sharing of responsibilities,
knowledge and expertise
“As a mother of young twins, I was • greater respect and appreciation of each other.
overwhelmed. Playcentre gave me Further information about Te Kōhanga Reo can be
support, adult interaction, and extra accessed at Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust’s website
hands to hold my babies. My twins are www.kohanga.ac.nz, or you can phone Te Kōhanga
Reo National Trust on (04) 381 8750.
four now, and I’ve watched them grow
into confident, competent learners.
They’ve built relationships, explored
the world, and learned so much about
being part of a group... and so have I.”

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 Parent-led services cont...

Playgroups Ngā Puna Kōhungahunga

Playgroups are community-based groups run by Ngā puna kōhungahunga are playgroups that
parent and whānau volunteers. encourage learning in and through Māori language
and culture.
Sessions are held regularly for no more than
four hours per day and are often set up in “It is a priority for us that our
community halls.
daughter’s early learning is based on
To be a playgroup, more than half the children
attending must have a parent there with them.
kaupapa and tikanga Māori, that it
Playgroups are not licensed although they may be
values whānau and whanaungatanga
certificated in order to receive government funding. and validates and enables te reo.
Parents and whānau who run the sessions receive We feel strongly that tamariki Māori
information, support and training from the Ministry have a right to succeed and thrive as
of Education.
Māori, and our daughter’s access to
the Puna is crucial to her wellbeing
and development.”

Pasifika Playgroups
There are playgroups in Pasifika languages and cultures
including Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island, Niuean,
Tokelauan, Tuvaluan and Fijian.

“It teaches and encourages kids to

speak their mother language and
prepares them for their future in
primary levels.”

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 Other services
Te Kura
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu – The Correspondence
School (Te Kura) offers learning programmes for
children aged three to five years who:
• live too far away from ECE services, kōhanga reo
or playgroups
• can’t attend because of health reasons
• shift homes at least once a term.
Te Kura teachers:
• work with you and your children to develop a
programme to help you plan activities and learning
experiences for your child
• can loan you a range of books, puzzles, educational
games, CDs and DVDs, posters and art materials
• organise regional events and achievement days.

Hospital-based services
“Te Kura’s early childhood education
If your child is a patient in a hospital, there is likely to
service has been a great experience be a playroom available for your family’s use and an
for both my children and our family. ECE programme provided by a hospital play specialist.
We live 33km from the nearest There is no cost and no need to enrol.
township, on a sheep and beef farm. Ask to talk to the hospital play specialist on your
child’s ward to find out more.
We felt it was impractical to attend
You can email [email protected] to find out
any ECE centre more than once a which hospitals have ECE programmes.
week. Te Kura filled this
gap brilliantly.”

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HOW DO I
CH O O S E ?
Things to consider
Think about what is important to you and your
family and what you think will be best for your
child’s education and wellbeing.
Explore early learning options near you,
research online, look in your newspaper, or
ask other whānau members, parents and
neighbours about their experiences.
Some of your decisions may be based on
practical issues such as:
> cost
> how close it is
> the hours the service is open
> whether you can get there easily.

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 Visiting a service Things to think about when you visit
a service
• Visit several services to find one that suits you and
your child. • How welcome do you feel?
• Ask for the person in charge so you can ask • Are adults and children kind to, and respectful
questions. of each other?
When you visit the service take your child with you and • Do the children seem content and absorbed in
look at what’s going on in the service and how your their tasks?
child reacts. • What is available for children’s play and learning?
Feel free to visit a service more than once – each time • Do you and your child like the indoor and
you can learn a little more. outdoor spaces?
It is good to talk to the staff and ask about anything • Are there opportunities for challenge?
you want to know. You may like to talk to other children
• How many children are enrolled and will this be
and parents and join in with what they are doing.
overwhelming for your child?

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Questions you could ask
• What is the turn-over of staff, children and their • If your child has/will have a sibling at the service,
families? will they be separated from each other?
• Are there age restrictions for enrolment? • What will your child learn and how often will
you be provided with updates on their learning
• What is the staff to child ratio and how many adults
and development?
are available to the children?
• Are there opportunities for your child to
• How does the service respond to individual
make choices about activities which reflect
children’s differences/preferences:
their interests?
- sleep – can you bring your own blankets?
• What is the fees structure, and does the service
What sleep routine/s does the service have?
receive government funding?
- meal times – what times do the children eat?
• Can the service provide advice on applying for
Can children easily access water when they are
Work and Income’s childcare assistance?
thirsty? If your child has allergies, how will the
service support you and your child? • If you are looking into a teacher-led service you
might be interested in knowing how many staff
- toileting – if you wish to use cloth nappies is this
are qualified.
encouraged? How will the service support you in
toilet training your child? • How much involvement will be required of you
and your whānau?
• Will your child be assigned to a group with a
primary caregiver? • In what way/s and how often does the service
communicate to parents and whānau about their
• What will happen if your child becomes upset for
child’s learning and development?
some reason?

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Questions you could ask cont...
If your child is a baby or toddler: If you are looking for a service that can support your
• Is a primary caregiver assigned to babies and/or child’s identity, language and culture:
toddlers? • Will the service celebrate and support your child as
• What is the staff to child ratio for babies and/or a bilingual learner, and if so how?
toddlers? • Are there teachers or adults that share the
• If your child is breastfed, is this encouraged and language/s your child speaks at home?
supported and if so how? • Are there conversations held in the language/s that
• How are babies fed at meal times? your child speaks at home between children and
children, or adults and children?
• Are there examples of labelling, pictures, play
equipment etc that reflects the written language
and culture of your family and other families
enrolled in the centre?

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 Questions you could ask cont...
If your child requires support for special education
needs you may also wish to ask:
• What experience do the teachers and adults
have in supporting children with similar needs
to your child?
• How will teachers and/or adults engage with the
things your child is passionate about?
• How will teachers and/or adults ensure your child
is welcomed by the other children and can learn
alongside them?
• If relevant, what experience have other parents
of children with special education needs had with
the service?
• Is there suitable access to rooms and toilet facilities?
• What are the grounds like eg level, or steep and
uneven?
• Is there good off-street parking for easy access?
• Is the service close to anything that may cause
noise distractions, such as an airport or main road?

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YOUR
QUESTIONSANSWERED
Fees, donations and subsidies
How much does it cost?
ECE services and kōhanga reo:
ECE services and kōhanga reo are able to receive • can charge fees either on a daily, weekly, or
government funding for up to six hours a day (a sessional basis
maximum total of 30 hours per week) for all enrolled
• must be able to show you how they are charging you
babies and children. Additional fees might also be
for the hours outside of 20 Hours ECE
charged by an ECE service or kōhanga reo and the
amount will vary. • can ask you for a donation which is voluntary and
does not need to be for anything specific
20 Hours ECE
• may request optional charges for 20 Hours ECE
20 Hours ECE funding is a higher rate of funding and for specific additional features provided above the
means that parents can’t be charged fees for these minimum regulated requirements.
20 hours.
Families may be entitled to the childcare subsidy
Most ECE services and kōhanga reo offer 20 Hours administered by the Ministry of Social Development
ECE, your child will be eligible if: (Work and Income). For more information search
• they are aged between three and five online www.workandincome.govt.nz
• you have completed the ’20 Hours ECE Attestation’ freephone 0800 559 009.
section on your child’s enrolment form.
If your child attends more than one ECE service How do I get there?
you can split the 20 Hours ECE claimed but you
cannot claim: Getting to and from services can be hard especially
if you don’t have a car. Other options include:
• the same hours twice
• a “walking bus” arrangement where you take turns
• more than six hours per day or 20 hours each
with other parents, whānau or caregivers to walk
week in total.
with groups of children
• sharing transport and or child minding with
another family
• some services and kōhanga reo have a bus or van
to pick up children and whānau and drop them
home again.

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 How involved can I be? What if I think my child needs help?
You can be as involved as much as you like in settling If you would like to chat to someone about your
and participating with your child at their ECE service, child’s early learning and/or development, or if
kōhanga reo or playgroup. Join in, have fun and play you think your child might need special education
with your child because this helps you and your child support you can talk to:
get to know the teachers and begin to feel at home • your child’s teacher, kaiako or educator
there. Talk to the people there about ways you can • your doctor
be involved. • a public health nurse
It is valuable to share information about your child’s • your iwi health authority
interests, family history or whakapapa and culture • someone in your local Special Education office.
with the service, and to take along special treasures,
taonga and photographs of special people. Share news To contact your local Special Education office
about what has happened at home, such as important search online www.education.govt.nz
family events and stories. email [email protected]
or freephone 0800 622 222.
Some services are run by parent committees or have
parents and whānau who volunteer to help during the
day, or stay with their children.
A strong relationship with the service means you will
be able to work together to support your child. You will
find out more about how your child learns and they will
get to know more about your family and the important
people in your child’s life.
Your child’s service will regularly talk to you about
their progress, interests, abilities and development
and include you in decisions about your child. They
should also give you information about the services
operation and Education Review Office reports.

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SETTLINGIN
Tips to help with settling in
Once you have made a choice and enrolled > spend time with them doing the different
your child in a service, here are some tips to activities and exploring the service
help with settling in: > meet some of the other children, introduce
> before leaving your child for the first your child and find out their names
time spend time with them at the service > for the first few times that you leave your
to help them become familiar with the child at the service leave them only for a
service (it may take as long as a few short time
weeks before you and your child feel
familiar with the environment) > let your child know when you are leaving
and what time you are coming back and
> if your child is old enough: keep to this time
- show them where the toilets are > say goodbye and then leave (if you stay this
- encourage them to ask questions could confuse them) the staff will look after
and talk to the teachers and learn them and reassure them
their names > you can ring the service a little while after
- encourage them to hang up their own you’ve left to check if they have settled
bag and to know where it is > try to keep to set times for arriving and
leaving so they feel more secure
> check to see whether you can take their
favourite blanket or toy along in the early
days as this may help.

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 Talking to the teachers about your child
It is important that you talk with the service’s staff
about how you can work together to best support your
child. You may wish to tell them about your child’s:
• special words and ways of communicating
• favourite ways of being comforted
• sleep routines – when and how they like to go
to sleep
• toilet training
• favourite foods and special food needs
• favourite colours, toys, music and songs
• life and family – important things that may
be happening and anything that might be
upsetting them
• medication and allergies
• things they like, don’t like, are good at, find a
challenge etc.

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OTHER
INFORMATION
What your child learns Education Review Office
Te Whāriki is the early childhood curriculum. It sets Licensed ECE services and kōhanga reo are usually
out the learning experience goals for children up to reviewed every three years by the Education Review
school age. Office (ERO). You can find the most recent ERO report
A service should have a planned programme that is for an ECE service or kōhanga reo on the ERO website
guided by Te Whāriki in both educating and caring for or you can ask the service to see a copy of their latest
your child. You should also see the cultures of individual ERO report.
children attending the service reflected in their Sometimes the information in a report may no longer
programme. be reflective of the ECE service or kōhanga reo.
Talk to the service about their most recent report’s
recommendations and find out what progress has
been made since its last review.
ERO also has a helpful booklet called He Pou Tātaki
– How ERO reviews early childhood services. Search
online www.ero.govt.nz email [email protected].

How do I make a complaint?

If you are unhappy with anything happening at a service,
check first with the service for their complaints process.
In a licensed service this should be displayed on a
noticeboard beside the licence. If you are unable to
resolve the issue with the service or want further
advice you can also contact the Ministry of Education.

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 FINDINGOUT MORE
The Ministry of Education’s website has information about:
> early learning
> ECE
> special education needs support.

Visit www.education.govt.nz, you can also visit

www.parents.education.govt.nz for practical information
about education for parents and caregivers.

To find out contact information for our regional offices visit

our website or phone our National Office on (04) 463 8000.

Information on the childcare subsidy

The Work and Income website has information about
the childcare subsidy.
Visit www.workandincome.govt.nz
Freephone 0800 559 009

The Education Review Office

The ERO website has information about reviews of ECE
services and kōhanga reo and other helpful information.
Visit www.ero.govt.nz

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Resources for parents and whānau
Copies of this booklet may be ordered from Ministry of Education Customer Services.
Please quote item number 711079.
You can place your order online at www.thechair.co.nz
by email [email protected]
freephone 0800 660 662, or freefax 0800 660 663.

Two pocket handouts about early learning

and ECE may also be ordered:

• Early learning – a great start.

G
EARLY LEARNIN DHO
O D This pocket handout provides information for you
HIL ION
LY CAT d about the benefits of early learning.
EAR C
a great start
U
ED volve
Be i n lled Please quote item number 710931.
nroe
Get • Early childhood education – be involved get
enrolled. This pocket handout provides information
for you about getting involved in ECE.
Please quote item number 710932.

Published 2014 by the Ministry of Education

PO Box 1666, Wellington 6011, New Zealand.
www.education.govt.nz
© Crown copyright, 2014
All rights reserved, enquiries should be made to the publisher.
ISBN 978-0-478-43947-2 (Print)
ISBN 978-0-478-43948-9 (Web)

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