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Carol Stovold Quality Kids qualitykidz.co.nz |
There is a growing concern from parents, educators and teachers from portions of the Early Childhood education sector, that a recent report – initiated by the Minister of Education – could result in increased childcare costs or closures of particular service types.
The ECE Taskforce report, released on the June 1, seems to have a focus on getting parents back into the workforce and is biased in favour of teacher led centre-based services, recommending that all 'other” services – Home-based childcare, Playcentre and Kohanga Reo – should receive reduced funding cuts of up to 63 per cent. Currently, home-based and parent-led ECE services are funded on average 40 per cent less than teacher-led, centre-based ECE services per child per hour, even though they must meet the same level of regulatory compliance and outcomes for children.
Diversity and transparency in the Early Childhood sector is critical, so parents can make informed decisions about the type of care best suited to their children's' needs and family values.
'Our fear is that the changes proposed by the ECE Taskforce will limit choice for parents by creating a bias toward out-of-home, centre-based childcare.”
A recent report by UNICEF entitled ‘The Child Care Transition' raises concerns about out of home childcare. The reports states, 'Today's rising generation is the first in which a majority are spending a large part of early childhood in some form of out-of-home child care. At the same time, neuroscientific research is demonstrating that loving, stable, secure and stimulating relationships with caregivers in the earliest months and years of life are critical for every aspect of a child's development.”
In the United States, it is now estimated that half of all children under one years of age are placed in some form of out-of-home childcare – such as childcare centres. The impacts of this vast change in the way we care for our infants and young children are not yet fully understood.
Parents who choose home-based childcare and parent-led services believe the inherent nature of home-based care and parental care, including the secure attachment relationships developed and the low ratio of care – child to educator/parent – is quality.
The US National Research Council clearly explains; 'If there is a single critical component of quality, it rests in the relationship between the child and the parent/teacher/educator and in the ability of the adult to be responsive to the child.”
Recently, the Minister of Education announced the maximum number of children in centre-based services has increased from 50 children to 150 children per licence. Elimination of home-based and parent-led ECE services as a focus on cost savings will lead to fewer options for parents and a 'factory style” approach to Early Childhood Education.
The Ministry of Education is currently conducting an eight week public consultation period on the recommendations made in the ECE Taskforce report. The consultation began on June 15 and will end on August 8. I strongly urge all parents, teachers and educators to provide feedback as part of this consultation process.
Consultation documents which can be completed online or downloaded and posted can be found on the Ministry of Education website:
www.lead.ece.govt.nz/ManagementInformation/RecentAnnouncements/ConsultationECETaskforce.aspx
Additional information can be found on:
www.facebook.com/SavePlaycentre?sk=wall
www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/ECE-Taskforce-NZ/169032569795258
Next week: Green paper release.