Our Commitment to Early Childhood Education

Hon John Key

More than 198,000 children are enrolled in kindergartens, play centres and köhanga reo across the country.

Early childhood education is an important first step in life-long learning.  We need to make sure that parents can continue to work and that their children have the best start in education.

To help do this, we are increasing funding for early childhood education providers to adjust for inflation.

This brings the early childhood sector's funding into line with increases in funding for primary, secondary, and tertiary education announced in the Budget. This is part of a $1.1 billion investment by National into early childhood education this year.

National has also extended the 20 hours ECE scheme to five-year-olds, playcentres, and kōhanga reo. This delivers on our election promise and increases the choices available for parents. 

These changes will take effect from 1 July next year. And from 1 July 2011, the six-hour daily limit for 20 hours ECE will be removed, giving working parents more options on how they plan their week.

We have provided establishment funding for ECE centres in Ashburton, Christchurch, Mangere, Oxford, New Plymouth, and East Cape. This funding is in the form of grants to help community-based centres purchase equipment and resources, and assist them in becoming licensed. Four of these centres will use their grants to help meet the costs of recruiting and employing qualified staff. 

National has also introduced changes that are designed to keep our children's health and safety in mind as well as reducing bureaucratic requirements on ECE centres. These changes follow consultation with the sector and parents.

They include a new Police vetting requirement for people aged 17 and over who live in a home-based educator's home. Sleep rooms and plumbed wash facilities in ECE centres will no longer be required, although centres must have a clear procedure for how they will ensure hygiene, and meet sleep requirements. There will also be changes to the risk procedures and the role of persons responsible for outings.

National is committed to ensuring all children get the best start in education. By increasing early childhood education funding, providing establishment grants, and cutting bureaucracy, we are helping more families to access early childhood education and helping to build a brighter future for the next generation of New Zealanders.