Different Kinds Of Early Childhood Education In NZ

There are many different early childhood education (ECE) programmes available in New Zealand. In this article, we aim to provide an overview of each of them, so that you as a parent can make an informed decision when deciding which programme is best for your child.

What is early childhood education?

Early childhood education or early childhood education is the earliest stage of a child’s interaction with education programmes. Traditionally, childhood education was the responsibility of the parents, but usually fell on the mother. World War II changed this, however. Women started taking over roles traditionally held by men, such as working factories and shipyards, and the need for early childhood educatiaon centres and institutions arose to care for children while parents were away.

This saw the emergence of ECE regulations, laws and funding by governments and the state.

Early childhood education services

The main types of ECE institutions are:

Kindergartens
Home based services
Education and care centres
Parent lead services
Play centres
Playgroups
Te Kōhanga Reo
Ngā Puna Kōhungahunga
Pacific Islands Early Childhood groups

See below for a brief explanation of each:

Kindergartens

Kindergartens employ qualified staff and registered teachers. They typically offer morning, afternoon or all day sessions and are chartered and/or licensed with the regional kindergarten association. The association is also responsible for employing teachers and managing funding and property.

Education and care centres

Education and care centres are basically all centre based services other than playcentres and kindergartens. Education and care centres offer all day and part day services. These can be privately or community owned and are operated by a qualified and registered teacher.

Playgroups and play centres

Play centres and playgroups are parent cooperatives. The families and parents are responsible for how the centres are managed and operated. In general, parents are responsible for running the sessions with the children.

Home based services

Home based services provide early childhood education at the home of the child or at the home of an educator. For the latter, parents typically drop off their children for a set amount of time. Learning is often on an individual or small group basis.

Parent led services

Parent led services see the parent of the child as the main educator. There may be the supervision of a qualified teacher to assist.

Te Kohanga Reo

The Kohanga Reo are also parent led cooperatives, however the programme focuses on Te Reo Maori and Tikanga Maori, (Maori language and culture) specifically.

Nga Puna Kohungahunga

Nga Puna Kohungahunga are run by parents and whanau (family). The ministry of education helps with support of education and training, and the programmes focus on Te Reo Maori and Tikanga (Maori language and culture).

Pacific Islands Early Childhood groups

Pacific Islands Early Childhood groups are often church or community based with input from parents. They aim to educate children about their own Pasifika language and culture from countries such as Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Fiji.

Rules and regulations for ECE services

Each early childhood education based service must obtain a license from the Ministry of Education and abide the rules and regulations set out by the ministry.

All ECE services are governed by a regulatory framework, outlined by the New Zealand government. This framework is broken down into 3 tiers:

You can find out more about the regulatory early childhood education framework on the Ministry of Education website here. These acts and regulations ensure the consistent and safe delivery of early childhood education programmes across the country, no matter the type of ECE institution.

Curriculum

The curriculum created by the Ministry of Education known at Te Whāriki, outlines the core teachings and principles that ECE services must cover if they are to retain their operating licenses. The curriculum focuses on a set of principles and associated goals which include:

Principles:

Empowerment
Holistic Development
Family and community
Relationships

Associated goals:

Health promotion and safety
Belonging, community and family
Contribution and purpose
Communication
Exploration

For more information about these principles and goals see the Ministry of Education website page.

Alternative ECE curriculums

There are also many alternative early childhood education programmes that differ from mainstream teachings. These include:

Montessori
Reggio Emilia approach
Rudolf Steiner
Others

See below for a brief explanation of each:

Montessori

Montessori – one of the more popular alternative education programmes available, was founded in 1907 by Maria Montessori. The teachings puts emphasis on the importance for each person to find meaningful work and their place in the world. Teaching are usually individualistic and less group focused than other programmes. There are over 40 Montessori centres operating in New Zealand.

Reggio Emilia approach

The Reggio Emilia approach was developed after World War II by Loris Malaguzzi in Italy. The programme is based on principles of respect, responsibility and community. Symbolic languages, such as painting, drawing and drama are emphasised to help students express and communicate ideas.

Rudolf Steiner

The Rudolf Steiner programme, founded by Rudolf Steiner in 1991 in Germany, teaches that a person is made up of three aspects – spirit, soul and body. The programme aims to develop these three elements in children from a young age, and to encourage free play over TV and computers.

Other programmes

There are also many other alternative programmes around the country that include various ideas and principles from other programmes, mixing and matching various elements to suit their respective views on how to approach and deliver early childhood education. Many church and religious programmes operate in this space too.

Overall, there are many different programmes available for early childhood education across New Zealand. Each programme has their own merits and should be considered based on the perspective and values of the parents and learning opportunities for the child.

For more information about early childhood education programmes and the broader topic of childcare in NZ , visit the Ministry of Education website.

Growing Kiwis