The Ministry has entered into final contractual negotiations with Future Schools Partners, and if successful, the consortium will design, finance and construct the schools, as well as maintaining them for 25 years.

Ministry Education Infrastructure Service head, Kim Shannon, says the land and buildings will be owned by the Ministry and all educational services will be the responsibility of school principals and boards of trustees.

“We have been working closely with the Establishment Boards of Trustees of all four schools over the last six months, and they have had considerable input to the future shapes of their schools,” she says.

Ms Shannon says three of the schools will be new – Ormiston Junior College (Auckland), Aranui Community Campus and Rolleston Secondary School (both in Greater Christchurch). One replaces an existing school which will be built in a new location – Wakatipu High School (Queenstown).

“We’ve already had new schools open in 2013 and 2014 under the first PPP.

“PPPs offer an excellent alternative to what we’ve traditionally done because these contractors also think about how the buildings will be maintained. Having a professional facilities manager also removes the maintenance from school leaders so they can focus on student achievement.

“This has already been the case with Hobsonville Point Primary School and Hobsonville Point Secondary School. The designs of these schools have been extremely popular with students, teachers and the school community. They were also delivered on time and for a lower cost than could have been achieved using a traditional procurement method.

“I’m confident Future Schools Partners will also create world class modern learning environments for all four of these schools.”

The three new schools are scheduled to open in 2017 and Wakatipu High School is due to open at the beginning of 2018.

Note to editors

The Future Schools Partners consortium includes companies which have a solid background in designing, building and maintaining New Zealand schools, including Hawkins Group (lead construction), ASC Architects (design), and Programmed (facilities management). The Public Infrastructure Partners Fund, ANZ and Westpac are financing the project.

Future Schools Partners was one of two consortia short-listed to develop proposals in response to an RFP released by the Ministry in July 2014. The proposals were reviewed by the Ministry of Education, Treasury officials and specialist advisors.

The Computers in Homes programme, funded by the Ministry since 2014 and run by the 2020 Communications Trust, works through low decile schools to provide families with a computer, a home internet connection and training and support for 12 months. This new funding will be available in the 2015-16 financial year.

As digital technology becomes more common in schools and our wider society, it is becoming increasingly important for parents to have the skills and confidence to use technology in their everyday life and to better connect with their children’s learning. The Computers in Homes website has more information on how the programme achieves this and the parents website has further information about learning using digital technologies.

Education Minister Hekia Parata appointed the Advisory Group on Early Learning in December 2014. The Group will provide advice to the Minister on how to strengthen the implementation of Te Whāriki, and will recommend practical ways to ensure children have consistent teaching and learning from birth to eight years old.

Dr Joce Nuttall has been appointed Chair of the Group, with Dame Dr Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, Adelle Broadmore, Jeanette Clarkin-Phillips, Ali Glasgow, Carol Hartley, Dr Lesley Rameka, Brenda Soutar, Jan Taouma and Jan Tinetti as members. Group members were selected for their knowledge and practical experience of ‘on the ground’ teaching.

The Group will be seeking input from the early childhood sector, schooling practitioners and representative groups over the next two to three months, and will report to the Minister of Education by 30 June 2015.

We thought that it might be useful to provide some information about our Early Intervention (EI) service which is a free service. Some of you will be familiar with this already.

Who do we work with?

We work with families/whānau and early childhood educators who ask for help when they are concerned about the learning and development of young children with developmental delay, disability, behaviour and/or communication difficulties. We support approximately 13,000 families/whānau each year.

We also work closely with health providers such as the Child Development Services to provide a holistic service for families/whānau.

Who are we?

We are a team of people (specialists) including speech language therapists, early intervention teachers, psychologists, advisors on deaf children, and kaitakawaenga (Māori cultural advisors).

We also employ Education Support Workers who provide support to ECE services in some situations to assist teachers with quality inclusive education for children with a high level of need.

Go to the Early Intervention Service for further information.

How we work and why?

We mostly work in homes and ECE settings. Research in child learning and development has demonstrated the value of using everyday activities as opportunities for learning. The best people to help children learn are adults who are with the child throughout the day and know them well. They can adapt the activities and experiences to suit their individual situation and preferences. This results in better intervention than that provided by a specialist visiting your child and working one on one with them.

How are referrals made?

Referrals to our service are mainly made by parents, educators, and health professionals, with parent agreement. They can be made by phone, letter or referral form.

Our EI teams are located at regional offices across the country. Contact details for these can be found here Contact Special Education.

There will be an opportunity to provide feedback about our services

We will be gathering information about our Special Education services over the coming months. We will let you know about this closer to the time.

Please contact Jo Davies, National Practice Leader, Early Intervention at jo.davies@minedu.govt.nz if you have any questions.

Articles in this news item:

• New funding claim audit requirements for service providers with multiple licences
• Playgroup Special Grants (PG4 forms)
• Early Childhood Education Funding Circular Information

New funding claim audit requirements for service providers with multiple licences

If your early childhood education service has multiple licences, you must correct any funding breaches identified during an audit, across all linked services. You must also put processes in place to ensure that these audit breaches do not continue.

We will communicate with you about the breaches identified. You will then need to write to us confirming that changes have been made.

We will then schedule a revisit to ensure that the funding requirements are being met by all your linked services.

Playgroup Special Grants (PG4 forms)

Please return all PG4 forms to regional offices by 27 February 2015 so we can make payments in May.

The Special Grant is a discretionary grant to assist certificated playgroups in meeting one-off costs.

For this round, playgroups critical to increasing participation in a Ministry target community can now apply to use this funding to reimburse co-ordinator expenses.

For queries and application forms, contact your regional Ministry of Education ECE playgroup advisor.

Early Childhood Education Funding Circular Information

We will send out the next early childhood education (ECE) Funding Circular, with advice notices, on the first working day in March. Please read the Circular in conjunction with the Early Childhood Funding Handbook and your ECE service’s advice notice, and file them both for future reference.

In future this funding information will be shared only through He Pānui Kōhungahunga - the Early Learning Bulletin. We will tell you more about this in the near future.

Early Childhood Education Funding: March 2015 Payment

Correctly completed RS7 Forms and electronic RS7 Returns submitted by Monday, 9 February 2015 will be paid overnight on Monday, 2 March 2015.

RS7 data was used to calculate entitlements for the following months:

Advance payments for February 2015 were paid in November 2014. The wash-up payment for February 2015 will be paid in July 2015.

Confirmation of Bulk Funding Payment

Payments are based on the information provided on the RS7 Form or electronic RS7 Return. Funding notices outlining payment calculations used are posted to ECE services on the payment date.

The Ministry does not provide payment confirmation to ECE services or service providers, their banks, or other financial institutions prior to the payment date.

Late Claims

Correctly completed claims received after Monday, 9 February 2015 but before Friday, 6 March 2015 will receive funding overnight on Friday, 20 March 2015.

Submitting Amended RS7s

ECE services with errors on their RS7 Forms can submit amended forms to the Ministry. All resubmissions must be accompanied by a completed signed and dated declaration.

If you submitted an electronic RS7 Return for March 2015, you may resubmit this period electronically via ELI, up until 30 April 2015.

Resubmissions are available to correct genuine errors or oversights that come to light at a later date. They should not be considered a normal part of the process. ECE services are expected to do all they can to ensure the accuracy of all data submitted.

Note: Resubmissions with incomplete declarations will not be processed.

Other ECE Funding Information

The Funding Handbook, available on www.lead.ece.govt.nz, contains the information needed to help complete funding forms (see Chapter 9 in particular). Clarification of some points is provided as follows:

Frequent Absence Rule and Recording Enrolment, Attendance and Absence for Funding Purposes

ECE services are reminded to refer to funding information on www.lead.ece.govt.nz, for information on claiming funding due to absences.

In the event of a funding claim audit, funding claimed incorrectly will be recovered by the Ministry.

Annual review of Equity Index (EQI)

Licensed services may apply to have their EQI reviewed in October each year.

Applications received for 2014 have been processed and successful applications will receive their new equity funding payment in the March 2015 bulk funding payment. Funding is effective from 1st October 2014.

ECE services wanting to apply for a review can next do so in October 2015. The forms will be available on the ECE Lead website.

New services and the Equity Index (EQI)

New ECE services which opened between 1 July 2014 and 31 December 2014 will receive a new service application email in March 2015.

Applications received from new ECE services which opened between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2014 have been processed and successful applications will receive their new rate of Equity Funding in the March 2015 ECE funding payment. Funding will be back-dated to the date the ECE service opened.

2015 marks the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, our nation’s founding document. Nationally we recognise this important event annually on 6 February. Treaty of Waitangi 175 commemorative activities will be happening throughout 2015.

The December 2014 issue of the Education Gazette Volume 93.22 included an article on Treaty of Waitangi 175. Gonville Kindergarten in Whanganui talked about the work they are doing with Whanganui iwi. It provided a focus on Curriculum criterion 5 of Te Whāriki which acknowledges the Treaty of Waitangi, and the principles of partnership, protection and participation within the early childhood curriculum framework.

We have launched a new portal www.waitangi.tki.org.nz that offers early childhood education (ECE) services and kōhanga reo, schools and kura and communities the opportunity to publish their Treaty of Waitangi projects, activities and ideas. It would be fantastic to see and share what ECE services and kōhanga reo are doing from across the country. Find out how to register and upload your project on the application form.

Was the Treaty signed in your area? Check out these dates of regional significance from across the North and South Islands.

We will update you over the year with more information about activities and work to commemorate Treaty of Waitangi 175.

Articles in this news item:

• Police vetting for ECE staff
• Person responsible reminder for home-based services
• Refreshed guidance for Governance, Management and Administration licensing criteria
• Health and Safety Reform Bill update
• Food Act 2014 regulations for public consultation
• Premises and facilities safety check reminder

Police vetting for ECE staff

We want to remind services that everyone who works at an early childhood education service or kōhanga reo, including contractors such as van drivers, must be police vetted before they are appointed and have unsupervised access to children. This must be repeated every 3 years. Service owners who work in the service also need to be police vetted.

A police vet:

• is a search of the police database for information held about a person
• gives information on criminal convictions
• includes the date of any convictions, the offence and the sentence received
• must be renewed every 3 years.

Registered teachers and holders of a limited authority to teach have a police vet done through the New Zealand Teachers Council every 3 years when they renew their practising certificate.

Service providers must keep a record of when their employees were police vetted including:

• the dates of all police vets
• when the next police vet is due
• whether the results were satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

All police vetting is done through the New Zealand Police Licensing and Vetting Service Centre.

To request police vets, each service needs to obtain an individualised agency code and the Consent to Disclosure of Information form by emailing queryme@police.govt.nz.

Further information is available in the Police Vetting section of the Ministry website.

Person responsible reminder for home-based services

We’d like to remind home-based services that:

• All their networks need to be supervised by a person responsible who is on duty and can respond to educators when children are attending and receiving funding from us.
• The person responsible who is on duty must be available to respond to families and fit to work. For example they cannot be under the influence of alcohol (Licensing Criteria HS30).
• Homes must also meet all regulatory requirements while children are enrolled and attending including being alcohol and smoke free (Licensing Criteria HS30/31/32).

Regulation 44 Qualifications, ratios and service size standard: general, in particular regulation 44(1)(d)(i), states that all services must have a person responsible, an ECE qualified and registered teacher, who is providing supervision at all times while children attend the service. This regulation must be met in both standard and quality funded networks.

Further information can be found in the Licensing Criteria for Home-based Education and Care Services on ECE Lead [PDF; 3.18MB] and in the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.

Refreshed guidance for Governance, Management and Administration licensing criteria

Early childhood education (ECE) services must meet criteria to show they meet licensing standards. The criteria are divided into 4 regulated standards:

• Curriculum
• Premises and Facilities
• Health and Safety
• Governance, Management and Administration.

The guidance developed for the Governance, Management and Administration licensing criteria has been updated to better support ECE services. The updated guidance can be found in the licensing criteria section of ECE Lead.

Any examples in the guidance are provided as a starting point to show how you can meet (or exceed) the requirement. You may choose to use other approaches better suited to your needs, as long as you comply with the criteria.

Over the next few months, the guidance for Health and Safety, Premises and Facilities and Curriculum licensing criteria will also be updated.

If you have any questions about the guidance or the licensing criteria, contact ece.info@minedu.govt.nz.

Health and Safety Reform Bill update

There is a Health and Safety Reform Bill currently being considered by Cabinet. Once passed by Parliament it is likely to come into force in the second half of this year.

The reforms aim to ensure health and safety becomes a priority for everybody in a workplace – this includes all early childhood education services and kōhanga reo.

The reforms propose some changes to accountabilities and personal liabilities for organisations and their workers. However if your service has quality health and safety practices in place now, it is likely little will need to change in practical terms.

We are working hard to ensure our own health and safety practices are sound and our workplaces are safe. We will also ensure the guidance we provide to our early learning and schools sectors is up-to-date. We are working with sector representatives on this and will keep you updated on the Bill’s progress.

Together we will be well prepared for the new Act when it is implemented.

Go to the WorkSafe New Zealand website for more information on the Bill.

Food Act 2014 regulations for public consultation

Public consultation on the draft regulations under the Food Act 2014 opened on 20 January 2015. Consultation ends on 31 March 2015.

You should read the draft regulations to get an understanding of the impact of the new regime and to make a submission, before consultation closes on 31 March 2015. The draft regulations can be found on the Ministry of Primary Industries website.

In summary the regulations advise that:

• Centre-based early childhood education (ECE) services that prepare or manufacture and serve meals, snacks or beverages for immediate consumption are subject to national programme level 2.
• Home-based services and other ECE services that undertake minimal food handling are exempt.
• Hospital-based ECE services are covered by their hospital’s obligations under the regulations.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has provided supporting information with examples of how education providers may be affected by the new regulations. While the document does not specifically refer to centre-based services as subject to national programme level 2, many of the activities described are relevant to some ECE services.

The regulations are planned to come into effect from 1 March 2016 for new ECE services. Existing services will need to transition to the new regulations by 30 June 2017.

Premises and facilities safety check reminder

Have you carried out a thorough health and safety check of your premises and facilities? If you have, did you check the self-closing mechanism on all gates and doors?

In the last 12 months, a number of children of various ages went beyond the boundaries of their early childhood education service without the knowledge of adults. Fortunately, these children did not come to any serious harm.

2008 ECE Regulation 45 Premises and Facilities PF 13 states:

Outdoor activity space is enclosed by a structure and/or fences and gates designed to ensure that children are not able to leave the premises without the knowledge of adults providing education and care.

Be aware of where children are at all times, particularly at peak drop off and pick up times where there are lots of parents coming and going. Ensure that:

• Parents do not congregate at the entrance of the service. It is harder to supervise if parents are congregating there. This is an opportune time for a child to slip out the door or gate unnoticed.
• Exit doors are made as child-proof as possible.
• The self-closing mechanism on gates and doors is checked regularly as part of the Hazard Identification procedure.
• Parents do not rely on the self-closing mechanism on gates or doors. Check that the gate or the door is securely closed.
• There is good signage e.g. “Please close the gate behind you”.
• Day to day use of emergency exits directly into or out of car parks and reserves is discouraged and parents are regularly reminded of the dangers of getting into such habits.
• Parents do not take their children from the centre without following the service’s sign-out procedure.

Please be vigilant with health and safety checks to ensure children’s safety.

In this News Item:

• Joining forces - It’s more than just a game
• Rātana Celebrations
• Weymouth ECE Rapid Cycle Change Project
• Ngā Potiki Community Action Group Tamariki Days

Joining forces - It’s more than just a game

The Ministry of Education and New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) have had great success in getting more young children involved in early learning through playgroups. As a result, we are expanding our partnership and involving new players so that even more families can benefit.

New Zealand Rugby League and Ministry of Education, Accident Compensation Corporation, Health Promotion Agency and New Zealand Police have teamed up to build better educated, stronger and safer rugby league communities.

The 4 government agencies are backing NZRL communities to be engaged, connected and leading.

The It’s more than just a game partnership will be led by NZRL who know their own communities’ strengths, challenges and networks best. They have a strong relationship with 40,000 players, their families and fans across the country, many of them in Māori and Pasifika communities.

The initiative will see the NZRL community:

• ENGAGED in education - through playgroups and well child checks, whānau learning plans, career aspiration development and support to move into the next stage of education or into employment.
• CONNECTED to each other - through more Safe Communities work and new community hubs.
• LEADING their community - through Leaguewise workshops that grow players’ skills and knowledge of how to contribute positively to the wider rugby league community.

NZRL chief executive Phil Holden says NZRL plays an important part in the health and wellbeing of its people. “We support our communities on and off the field, whether in early learning, developing future leaders or promoting better choices. We’ve found government partners who understand our challenges, share our values and will help provide solutions,” says Mr Holden.

The Government agencies involved in this work understand the value of working differently in ways that build on existing networks, remove duplication and focus on collective success. They are finding more ways to work with communities to grow better educated, stronger and safer New Zealanders.

Minister and NZRL players left to right: Sosaia Feki, Siliva Havili, Education Minister Hekia Parata, Suaia Matagi and Thomas Leuluai.

Officials Left to Right: Wallace Haumaha, Deputy Chief Executive Maori (Pacific and Ethnic), New Zealand Police; Sid Miller, Chief Customer Officer (ACC); Clive Nelson, Chief Executive (HPA) (hidden); Minister of Education Hekia Parata; Phil Holden, Chief Executive Officer, NZRL; Rawiri Brell, Deputy Secretary of Education.

Rātana Celebrations

Every January thousands of whānau travel from all over Aotearoa to Rātana Pā near Whanganui for the annual celebration of the birth of Prophet Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana.

Last year we were invited to support the celebrations for the first time, by hosting an Early Learning Tamariki Zone where whānau could play and learn together in a fun and familiar environment. At the same time they received information about the importance of and options for early learning.

This year we joined with Rātana, who set a deliberate focus on rangatahi and tamariki. This translated into a larger presence, a programme of activities for children to learn more about the Rātana movement and a space for rangatahi to engage, debate issues and hang out. The Early Learning Zone was full of information and learning experiences. These provided opportunities for tamariki to play and learn alongside their peers and whānau, resulting in magic moments throughout the 4 day event.

The Rātana celebrations provide an opportunity for us to engage and korero “kanohi te kanohi” with whānau. Raising the profile of education within a setting like this encourages whānau to be champions for education and leads to increases in participation in quality early learning and achievement in NCEA Level 2.

Weymouth ECE Rapid Cycle Change Project

Seven early childhood education (ECE) services in the Clendon and Weymouth areas of South Auckland are partnering with Ko Awatea with the Ministry of Education's Early Learning Taskforce to develop and implement innovative and practical solutions to connect with families, promote early learning, increase ECE participation in their community.

The ECE services, alongside the Weymouth Community Action Group, have set up an improvement methodology programme, in this case called Rapid Cycle Change (RCC), using the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) model.

This passionate group meet weekly in their own time to discuss and work through problems relating to accessing ECE and come up with their own solutions. This is where they plan their weekly change ideas, starting with small projects, making small yet continuous improvements. Their expertise and local knowledge has been supported with government in the form of an Improvement Advisor and Subject Matter Expert.

All the ECE services teach and learn from each other using two challenges; how to put improvement systems in place and how to increase enrolment and participation of children at their centres.

Common data collected by each centre is showing significant improvements in both enrolment and participation rates (see below).

Not every idea that the group has come up with has worked, and some of the data collection has been challenging, but early indications of success are exciting. Change has indeed been rapid. “If it works, keep doing it, if it doesn't, try something else!”

Examples of success include:

• There was one ECE service that filled its roll within three days and nearly doubled its roll in less than two months.
• In another ECE service, staff noticed a drop in attendance, and so straight away they set about finding out why. The centre’s own research showed 56% of children weren’t coming because they were sick. As a result, a nurse was brought on board to support and educate families dealing with childhood asthma, a common problem among those children whose attendance had dropped.

The RCC process has helped ECE services develop solutions to increase participation that will work for them and their communities. This is bringing rapid improvements in ECE participation for very little cost.

Due to the early success of this project another two new projects have been established with another 17 ECE services in communities where there are high levels of social deprivation and low levels of ECE participation.

If any ECE services are interested in RCC please contact your regional Ministry Office to engage with the Early Learning Taskforce team member.

Ngā Potiki Community Action Group Tamariki Days

Early learning provides an important foundation for life-long learning and the best way to get this message out there and to be heard is through community. The Ngā Potiki Community Action Group (CAG) has members with diverse backgrounds, experiences and skills who are all committed champions to raising Ngā Potiki educational achievement.

To promote the message two ‘Tamariki Days’ have been held so far with CAG volunteers coordinating the early learning activities, food, and people through networking across the wider community. Liaising with early learning providers is a key component of the success of the events. The first event was held at Arataki Community Centre and the second at Papamoa College.

The events celebrate tamariki and mokopuna and raise awareness of the importance of early learning among whānau and families. Stalls provide information about options for early learning including the Ministry funded Poipoia Te Mokopuna initiative. As an extra bonus the participants were entertained by the Papamoa College Kapa Haka group giving true expression to the ‘tuakana/teina’ concept.

Articles in this News Item:

• Regional update from Hira Gage (Tai Tokerau)
• Regional update from Kevin Emery (Auckland)
• Regional update from Paula Rawiri (Waikato)
• Regional update from Ezra Schuster (Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō)
• Regional update from Marilyn Scott (Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne)
• Regional update from Jann Marshall (Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu)
• Regional update from Pauline Cleaver (Wellington)
• Regional update from Erika Ross (Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast)
• Regional update from Coralanne Child (Canterbury)
• Regional update from Julie Anderson (Otago, Southland)

Regional update from Hira Gage (Tai Tokerau)

E ngā kaiwhakanui i te pūmanawa, he mana tikanga, me te uri o māia o a tātou tamariki mokopuna, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

I am very proud to be the Director of Education for Tai Tokerau and to be able to contribute to the aspirations of our community’s children, young people, and their whānau and iwi.

The early learning sector has always had a strong commitment to working collaboratively with families/whānau reinforcing the need to ensure young children receive a quality start to education.

The “98% Participation in 2016” work programme aims to improve educational outcomes for our priority learners (Māori children, Pasifika children, children with special education needs and vulnerable children) by giving them a strong start in their education.

We value the positive and effective relationships with the early learning sector in Tai Tokerau and look forward to strengthening these relationships in 2015.

I have had the pleasure of visiting many services over the last few years and would like to continue that trend this year.

I wish you well for the new year and please don’t hesitate to contact me or our Early Learning team if you have any queries or need support in any way.

Ngā mihi nunui ki a koutou katoa

Hira

Regional update from Kevin Emery (Auckland)

This is our first He Pānui Kōhungahunga – the Early Learning Bulletin and a great way for my team and I to let you know more about us and what is happening in Early Learning in Auckland.

I have been the Regional Director for 6 months and have been incredibly impressed with your hard work and commitment to making sure our youngest children have the best start possible for their learning. This is a dynamic ECE environment with nearly 1300 ECE services and kōhanga reo and over 250 playgroups.

I am keen to hear your views on what is important for the Early Learning sector in Auckland so I can get a better appreciation of the issues and opportunities we have. This is fundamental to me if we are to support you effectively. I am keen to hear from you (and get an invite). Please feel free to email me at kevin.emery@minedu.govt.nz any time.

Early Learning Networks

In the Auckland region, 20 early learning networks have been established to improve outcomes for our priority learners. This project is being funded by the Ministry’s Strengthening Early Learning Opportunities (SELO) programme to provide opportunities for ECE services and kōhanga reo in the same area to network, support and learn as a group.

In these learning networks, ECE services, kōhanga reo and playgroups have the opportunity to join a cluster with other local ECE people, participate in workshops and be supported to review a selected topic. Topics for events and clusters include bicultural practice, an introduction to autism, curriculum practice, transitions, self review and appreciative inquiry, strengthening attendance and participation, and child protection practice.

Each early learning network has a series of up to 4 events happening until the end of June. If you are interested in finding out more please email the coordinator for your area.

Regional update from Paula Rawiri (Waikato)

Good News Stories

3 new services have recently opened as a result of Targeted Assistance for Participation projects:

• Kidicorp Powells Road in Fairview Downs opened on 19 November 2014 for 50 children. This is the first licensed service in this priority area.
• Te Kohao Health, a new bi-lingual 50 place service, opened on 12 February 2015 in Hamilton City. The service will prioritise enrolments of children from the Insoll area.
• You & Me Limited (Wee Wisdom Montessori) opened with 50 child places in Paeroa on 3 February 2015.

McKenzie Centre (Hamilton) is maintaining a full caseload, supporting children with special needs. The service has reported increased capacity as a result of a participation programme project. This is making a real difference to support these children and their families to participate in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and has reduced service waiting times.

Playworx (Hamilton) featured in the Hamilton Press in December 2014. A successful visit by the Fire Brigade turned into a campaign to help local families improve domestic fire safety. 15 smoke alarms were fitted into houses in the area.

14 out of 29 Waikato Kindergarten Association kindergartens now have extended operating hours to include school holidays and all-day options to suit the needs of working parents and meet family needs. Some kindergartens are now open 8.30-3.30 pm. Children can attend all day or just a morning or afternoon session. It is likely further kindergartens will also offer the new hours in due course. 

Information for services 

Professional Development 

• 2015 MOE Waikato Courses and Workshops for Parents and Educators.
  A programme of professional development courses and workshops in Waikato can be found here [Word; 913Kb]. There are over 20 different courses available including Early Language and Incredible Years. In offering these workshops we hope to promote participation, engagement and achievement by children and young people of all ages. Course application information is included.
• Support For New Entrant Teachers in the Waikato Region.
  The “Big Day In” on Wednesday 18 March 2015 is a great opportunity for new entrant teachers and early childhood teachers to enhance their knowledge of early mathematics and early literacy. Teachers, who have been involved in Ministry funded professional development with Educational Leadership Project Limited (ELP), will share the mahi that supports strong outcomes for children in these learning areas.
  The “Big Day In” will be held at the Hamilton Ministry Office, 19 Home Straight, Te Rapa, Hamilton.  For further details visit: www.elp.co.nz/big_day_in
• Kowhai Consulting Ltd. will be running a one day mārae based ECE Wānanga for ECE teachers from the Tainui Region around the C5 curriculum area on 22 April 2015.
  Kowhai Consulting has been contracted by the Ministry to deliver this workshop as part of the Strengthening Early Learning Opportunities (SELO) Professional Development Programme. For further information contact: Piki Knap, Kowhai Consulting Ltd, piki@kowhai.biz or Kowhai Consulting Ph: 07 858 3385.

Regional update from Ezra Schuster (Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō)

Talofa lava and Tēnā koutou katoa

I am proud to be the Director of Education for Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Taupō and I am looking forward to working alongside you and your leadership teams to raise the quality, participation and achievement of our children. In October last year we ran a number of networking meetings for the Early Learning sector where I met many of you and I’m keen to run another series of these later this year. 

A bit about me. My parents migrated from Samoa during the 1960’s and raised all 7 of us (I am number 5) in Mangere, South Auckland, where I attended my local primary school Jean Batten and then De La Salle College. It was my parents’ dream to give us a better education, leaving their homeland of Samoa for Aotearoa New Zealand, which has inspired me to give something back to my communities and work in education.

I have been with the Ministry of Education for 8 years, based in the Auckland region but working across the country. During this time I have supported the implementation of the Pasifika Education Plan, international development work across the Pacific, the transformation of the Resource Teacher Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) service, strengthening inclusive practice in schools, as well as taking a lead on several interagency projects and initiatives. I have a real interest in leadership development, community development, and diversity management, and I am involved with the Commonwealth Emerging Leaders Dialogue, NZ Young Leaders Day, Sir Peter Blake Trust, and Diverse NZ. I also did my Master of Education Management (MEdM) on the induction of expatriate teachers in international schools across South-East Asia whilst living in Chiang Mai, Thailand and Hiroshima, Japan.

I have been on several advisory groups in the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) sector including the Māori and Pasifika Initiative with the ASB Trust and Le Va - a Pasifika workforce development provider.

However, my real passion is education and the potential that it has to change lives and make a positive difference for all of our children and young people, especially our most vulnerable, including those with special learning needs and in lower socio-economic communities.

I am married to Rachel, who is a primary-trained teacher, and we have 5 children ranging from 2 to 10 years. Life is busy but we love it and they have settled in well to a new school and kindergarten in the most beautiful region of the country!

My team and I look forward to meeting with you to listen to what we can do to support the great work you are doing for our children and young people. You can email me directly on ezra.schuster@minedu.govt.nz

Ia Manuia
Ezra Schuster

Regional update from Marilyn Scott (Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne)

Tēnā koutou katoa 

I took up the position of Director of Education for Hawke’s Bay/ Tairawhiti in July last year. After 8 years away, being able to come back and contribute to the support the Ministry provides was too good an opportunity to pass up.

I’m a Hawke’s Bay person, having attended Mayfair Primary School, Hastings Intermediate and Central Hawke’s Bay College. I’ve taught in the Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay, and prior to joining the Ministry in 2001 was the principal of what was then Colenso High School.

I have 2 children and 3 grandchildren, aged 6, 4 and 3. My children attended Rongotea Playcentre. They’ve all been living overseas until recently, and it’s great to have one’s family back in New Zealand while the children are still little and we can see more of them. I know the parents and grandparents among you will relate to that.

In 2001, I was appointed local office manager for the newly created Ministry of Education office that served the same region we do now – Potaka to Takapau – and I stayed in that role for 5 years, until a senior manager’s position became available in the Ministry’s national operations in Wellington. This is where I’ve been since 2006, except for 9 months on secondment to Christchurch in 2011 to assist with the recovery of schooling after the earthquakes.

On returning to Wellington I acted as group manager in Sector Enablement and Support pretty much until I returned to the new Director of Education position based in Napier on 1 July 2014.

Children and young people rely on all of us working together to create the best possible conditions for participation and achievement to flourish and grow. I’ve come back to teams in Napier and Gisborne who are in good heart and dedicated to working with you as education professionals. Through you and your Early Childhood Education (ECE) services and kōhanga reo, we will support the children, families and communities that make up our region.

Thank you
Marilyn Scott

Pop Up Playgroup Trailer – Mobile ECE Outreach Project

The Mobile Early Childhood Education (ECE) Outreach Projectlooks to promote awareness of early childhood education and raise levels of participation in quality ECE.

The Hastings Early Childhood Community Action Group (Hastings CAG) and Purena Koa Rehua Youth Services are equipping a fully covered trailer with early childhood resources and marketing materials.

This trailer will be available to community groups (including schools) when they hold events, particularly where the event connects with families of children currently not participating in ECE.  The trailer will be available for use from March 2015.

For more information please contact Kayren Hatherell by email: pkryouthsrv@xtra.co.nz or phone: 06 8796434.

Participation Rates

The latest statistics on children that regularly participated in early childhood education (ECE) prior to starting school show the participation rate has increased to 97% for the Hawke’s Bay/Tairawhiti region.  This is higher than the national figure of 96.1% for the period ended December 2014.  It is also an increase of 1.2% from December 2013.

Regional statistics also show positive increases in participation in ECE:

The National Better Public Service Goal is “in 2016, 98% of children starting school will have participated in quality ECE”.

Regional update from Jann Marshall (Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu)

Kia ora koutou

Welcome back to the New Year. I hope you all had a good break and the children and families in your service are excited about the year ahead. Our team look forward to supporting you and your communities in 2015.

Looking forward to meeting you all

While our team have met many of you there are still many that we have yet to meet. Ministry staff will be running regional sessions in New Plymouth, Whanganui and Palmerston North throughout the year to allow you to get to know all of us.  We will provide advance notice of these opportunities and we look forward to meeting you.

Ministry staff

Many of you will have had contact with Ministry staff. We have had some changes over the latter part of 2014 and we are taking this opportunity to introduce our team and to ensure you have the latest contact details. Please see the profiles of the early childhood staff and managers in the area. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

Whanganui Children’s Team

Under the National Children’s Action Plan, last year I ran an information session for Whanganui based services to inform them of the arrival of the Whanganui Children’s Team.

Originally we were told that the team would start small and cover Whanganui only. Since then we have been advised that the team will support families in Mid Central District Health Board’s region. We have been informed that the timeline for the rollout has been delayed from June until December 2015. We will update you as soon as we have more information.

For information on the children’s action plan please follow the link: http://childrensactionplan.govt.nz/childrens-teams/faqs/

Jann Marshall

Director of Education
Tel: 06 349 6352
Mob: 021 229 7685
jann.marshall@minedu.govt.nz

Profile

I joined the Ministry of Education in September 2007 as a Project Manager Schooling Improvement. In July 2010 I went on to lead the Education, Curriculum and Performance team in Lower Hutt  3 years before going on to be Regional Manager in October 2013. That position covered Early Learning and Schooling across Central South which included Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu.

Prior to joining the Ministry, I was a Manager at NZQA where I led the School Relationship Managers who supported, monitored and reviewed secondary schools in their delivery of national qualifications. There I was involved in the development and implementation of the National Certificates of Educational Achievement as well as being responsible for the delivery of tertiary examinations and the transition to national certificates and diplomas. 

Responsibilities

I am responsible for ensuring that all Ministry staff understand their communities’ aspirations and needs so that Early Childhood Education (ECE) services, kōhanga reo, schools, kura, parents, children and students receive a responsive service.  The Ministry is here to support the delivery of quality education in the Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu area so that all children and young people can be successful.

Rae Karipa

Manager Education
Tel: 06 349 6308
Mob: 027 296 2195
Rae.Karipa@minedu.govt.nz

Profile

I have spent the past 11 years working in a variety of roles in the Ministry. The majority of my work has been in the Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu area, leading and managing teams to support schools and early learning providers. I have also been focused on developing partnerships with key community groups and agencies.  Other roles within the Ministry have included 6 months in Christchurch supporting schools following the 2011 earthquake, and working in a national team to support the sector focus on achieving the Better Public Service target of 85% of school leavers attaining an NCEA L2 qualification or above by 2017.

Responsibilities 

• Oversight of schooling work programmes
• Implementation of early learning and school work programmes in New Plymouth, Stratford, South Taranaki and Ruapehu Territorial Local Authorities.

Marlene Clarkson

Manager Education
Tel: 06 349 6304
Mob: 027 275 1450
marlene.clarkson@minedu.govt.nz

Profile

I began my career in early childhood in South Auckland as a Kindergarten Teacher.  I have worked as a professional development facilitator; have managed a large multi-site early learning service and spent some years as a Reviewer with ERO in Christchurch.

I joined the Ministry in 2007 and during this time completed a Masters in Education Administration.  

I have worked in National Office in a range of initiatives to support the Better Public Service goal that 98% of all children participate in early learning prior to starting school.

Responsibilities 

• Oversight of early learning work programmes
• Implementation of early learning and school work programmes in Whanganui, Palmerston North, Rangitikei and Manawatu Territorial Local Authorities.

Maraea Hoerara

Senior Advisor ECE
Tel: 06 349 6316
Mob: 027 441 8836
maraea.hoerara@minedu.govt.nz

Profile

Ko Whetūmatarau te maunga
Ko Awatere te Awa
Ko Hinerupe te marae
Ko te whānau a Hunaara te hapū
Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi
Ko Maraea Hoerara ahau.

I have a keen interest in supporting the learning of children, in particular 0-6 year olds. I began my career in education teaching in kōhanga reo. I have experience in other parts of the Early Learning sector.  No reira tēnā koutou

Tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa.

Responsibilities

• All ECE work programmes
• Kōhanga Reo

Barbara Potaka

Advisor ECE
Tel: 06 349 6303
Mob: 027 886 0557
Barbara.potaka@minedu.govt.nz

Profile

Ko Aotea te waka
Ko Ruapehu te maunga
Ko Whanganui te awa
Ko  Atihau-nui-a-paparangi te iwi
Ko Nga Paerange te hapu
Ko Kaiwhaiki te marae
No Whangauni ahau

I have been involved in education for 15 years, 11 of which were working in Early Childhood Education licensed services before joining the early childhood team at the Ministry of Education in 2011.

Through my position in the Ministry of Education, I support licensed services and playgroups. I promote the importance of early learning, and the need to be responsive to the identity, language and culture of all children. I enjoy being able to make a difference for tamariki and their whānau.

Of particular interest is working alongside vulnerable children and whānau within communities and supporting them into early learning opportunities that meet their needs and aspirations.

Responsibilities 

• Playgroups in Taranaki, Manawatu, Whanganui Region

Ann-Cherie Phillips

Advisor ECE
Tel: 06 349 6328
Mob: 027 886 0558
anncherie.phiilips@minedu.govt.nz

Profile

Ko Ruapehu te Maunga
Ko Aotea to Waka
Ko Te Atihaunui a paparangi te iwi
Ko Ngāti Tuera me Ngāti Hinearo ngā hapu
Ko Parikino te Marae
No Whanganui ahau

I have worked in home-based care as an educator before coming to work for the Early Childhood team in 2011.

I am keen to explore innovative ways to engage whānau in Early Learning, specifically to encourage those who see it as foreign.

I have lived in Whanganui all my life surrounded by whānau. I have three young boys who remind me every day how important education is.

Responsibilities

• Playgroups in the Taranaki, Manawatu, Whanganui Region

Nicole Hobbs

Senior Advisor ECE
Tel: 06 349 6310
Mob: 027 704 8993
nicole.hobbs@minedu.govt.nz

Profile

I have 20 years experience in the education sector as an Early Childhood Teacher, Early Childhood Education (ECE) Manager, and ECE Tutor. I am committed to the well-being of young children and their whānau through supporting early childhood educators, services and, kōhanga reo to provide quality teaching and learning. My key priorities include raising awareness about bi-cultural practices, participation, self review, assessment, evaluation and transitions.

Responsibilities

• All ECE work programmes

Tania Anderson

Advisor ECE
Tel: 06 349 6397
Mob: 027 886 0559
tania.anderson@minedu.govt.nz

Profile

E rere kau mai te awa nui mai i te kahui maunga ki tangaroa ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.

The river flows from the mountain to the sea, I am the river and the river is me.

Born and bred on the banks of the Whanganui River, I have worked within the early childhood arena for the past 28 years. My priority has always been to support tamariki/mokopuna to get the best possible start in life.  I have ten years experience in Te Kōhanga Reo as a Board member and support person for both Kaiako and Kaiawhina.  I delivered the Promoting Participation in Early Childhood Contract for the Whanganui/Taranaki region.

I joined the early childhood team in 2007 as an ECE Advisor and continue to strive for the ultimate goal of supporting and encouraging all whānau to participate in Early Learning.

Responsibilities

• Playgroups Whanganui, Taranaki, Manawatu

Regional update from Pauline Cleaver (Wellington)

Tēnā koutou katoa

A bit about me

I am really excited to have the opportunity to be the Director of Education for Wellington. I took up my role as Director in July last year and have had a busy 6 months leading regional staff in shaping our work going forward.

I was born and bred in Wellington and both my parents were teachers so, maybe not surprisingly, when I left school I trained as a primary teacher at Wellington Teachers College. Then my first teaching role took me to Auckland, where I taught for several years.

Following this, my family moved to the Bay of Plenty where I continued to teach and hold a range of senior management positions in the education sector.

I have a son who is in his second year of teaching and a granddaughter who is flourishing in one of Wellington’s great early learning services.

I have worked in the Ministry of Education for 9 years.  The last 4 years were in the Ministry’s national office and for most of this time, I was the programme manager for regional education.  Prior to starting this role, I was a senior manager for Curriculum, Teaching and Learning; my leadership portfolio was for Literacy and Numeracy.

Like you, I am passionate and committed to every child and student achieving their potential and accessing quality education.  I also acknowledge the critical importance that quality early learning settings have in building important foundations that have lasting benefits for educational achievement.

The Regional Landscape

Across our region we have 645  Early Childhood Education (ECE) services and kōhanga reo, including 147 certificated playgroups. Our work in the Early Learning sector continues to focus on increasing participation and strengthening quality.

Participation rates in our region have been increasing over the past few years and the focus we have given to engaging with priority communities is clearly making a difference.   Māori participation rates have increased from 94.7% in 2012 to 95.8% in 2014 and participation rates for Pasifika have increased from 92% in 2012 to 94.7% in 2014.   While this increase in participation is encouraging, we know we need to do more if we are to ensure that every child’s education journey begins on the strongest of foundations.   The Wellington regional team and I look forward to working together with you to help achieve the government goal of ensuring that 98% of children starting school will have participated in quality early childhood education.

We intend to use  He Pānui Kōhungahunga – the Early Learning Bulletin in the future to profile some of the great work that the Early Learning sector, including parents and communities, are doing to help strengthen participation, engagement and provision across our region.

Ngā mihi nui
Pauline Cleaver

Regional update from Erika Ross (Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast)

Kia ora tātou

Warm greetings to all of you educating and caring for our most treasured citizens, including those of you providing valuable support to teaching teams. We wish you all a very successful and rewarding year.

The Better Public Service goal: “98% of all children starting school having had prior participation in quality early childhood education” continues to be a priority focus for 2015. We are making very good progress towards this right across our diverse area. The latest statistics, from December 2014, have recently been published on the Education Counts website – www.educationcounts.govt.nz.

Nelson, Tasman and Kaikoura have currently met the target overall and all other territories in our area are making steady gains. We will work closely with identified communities to support their children and families to engage in early learning opportunities. Thank you to those of you closely involved with this work.

Our small and dedicated team look forward to continue working with you to provide quality education and care for our children and their families. This is essential for the aspirations, as stated in Te Whāriki, to be realised for all our children.

Atawhaitia nga kōhungahunga, ko rātou hoki te uri whakatipu.
Nurture the young for they are our future.

Sector Enablement & Support Roles

Erika Ross, Director of Education for Marlborough/Nelson/West Coast

Tel: 03 539 1533
Mob: 027 509 0430
Email: Erika.Ross@minedu.govt.nz 

Responsibilities:

• Liaison with stakeholders Pasifika
• Local priorities
• Children’s Teams
• Teen Parent Unit (TPU)
• Special Education (SE)
• Interagency links
• Education Review Office (ERO)
• First Time Principals (FTP)
• Pasifika

Kia ora, Talofa lava and Greetings.

My background includes 28 years experience as a principal in Porirua, Wellington and Christchurch across primary and intermediate schools, ranging from 70 to over 600 students, from decile 2 to decile 10.

Other roles at the Ministry of Education I have had:

• National Operations Manager for Special Education
• Manager of the Literacy, Numeracy and Assessment teams at National Office
• Lead for the Southern Student Achievement Practitioners Team
• Manager of the Schools Change Project in Christchurch
• Local Office Manager for the Marlborough/Nelson/West Coast area.

Glenda Haren, Senior Advisor – Early Childhood Education (ECE)

Tel: 03 546 3473
Mob: 027 248 0208
Email: Glenda.Haren@minedu.govt.nz

Responsibilities:

• ECE all work programmes
• All Licensed Services

I have had wide experience in education over the past 25 years as an Education Review Officer; and also have worked as an Early Childhood Teacher, Manager, Team Leader, Lecturer and in the support services.

I am highly committed to young children, their well-being and quality provision for them and their families. Key priorities include Te Tiriti o Waitangi, self review, assessment, evaluation and transitions.

Elizabeth Hamilton, Advisor – Early Childhood Education (ECE)

Tel: 03 539 1504
Mob: 027 836 4971
Email: Elizabeth.Hamilton@minedu.govt.nz 

Responsibilities:

• Playgroups Marlborough and Nelson
• Pasifika Education Plan (PEP)

I am passionate about education that is responsive to the learner's language, identity and culture. I have lived in Japan, taught English as a second language in France and worked as an Internship Coordinator for International Students at NMIT.

I became involved in Early Childhood Education through Playcentre where I worked as a Supervisor and Liaison Officer. I have a degree in Japanese and French and am studying towards a diploma in Māori Studies.

Joanna Lorimer, Advisor – Early Childhood Education (ECE)

Tel: 03-768 2018
Mob: 027 479 8750
Email: Joanna.Lorimer@minedu.govt.nz

Responsibilities:

• Playgroups West Coast and Nelson
• Communication (Ministerial)

I have been involved in education for 27 years. This has been with a range of ages but mostly in early learning.

I joined the early childhood education team at the Ministry of Education in 2007. Since then I have enjoyed getting to know communities throughout the West Coast and Nelson areas and working with playgroups and licensed Early Childhood Education services, kōhanga reo.

Regional update from Coralanne Child (Canterbury)

Kia ora 

Our best wishes go out to Early Childhood Education services (ECE), kōhanga reo, schools and kura in Canterbury as you begin 2015. May it be an exciting year with many achievements and celebrations.

This month we mark 4 years since the February 2011 earthquake when many of our Early Childhood Education services, kōhanga reo, schools and kura had to find alternative premises or share sites and classrooms because of the damage to your buildings. The pace of that change and progress since has been dizzying.

Thanks to the support and efforts made by members of the education sector, including parents and children, we are continuing to build a better Christchurch education network.

Through Learning Communities we have a collaborative vision and culture to enhance learning outcomes. So far the progress of bringing together groups of schools and early learning services has proven a powerful tool in the success of the greater Christchurch Education Recovery Programme. 

The most substantial changes have emerged from you, the ECE services, kōhanga reo, schools and kura, and your desire to adapt as we aim to enhance education across Greater Christchurch.

Our main priority remains the continued support to students and staff post-earthquakes as many people in our communities continue to require support as a result of the earthquakes and changes which have been made in response to them. 

We believe 2015 is an opportunity for us to continue to work together to achieve our goal for Greater Christchurch to become the leading education community in New Zealand, where every child is supported to realise their talents. I know that the Ministry teams are looking forward to working with you to do this.

Mā te wā,

Coralanne Child
Director of Education for Canterbury

Regional update from Julie Anderson (Otago, Southland)

Kia ora koutou and warm Pasifika greetings

Welcome to the Otago/Southland section of the He Pānui Kōhungahunga – the Early Learning Bulletin. I hope you have all had an opportunity to enjoy the fantastic summer weather in the South and have returned to your playgroup / service feeling refreshed and ready for the challenges ahead in 2015. We know that your work at the starting end of the education pipeline is crucial to the lifelong development and achievement of the children in your care. Thank you for the efforts you make each day to ensure the children get every opportunity to grow and learn in a secure and engaging environment.

I was pleased to meet with representatives from the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Childcare Association, the Otago Playcentre Association and some of the Otago Kindergarten Associations before Christmas and listen to their philosophies, approaches and concerns around their operation. This feedback is most helpful for our team.

Under our new Ministry structure we have 2 Managers of Education working alongside our advisors: Mary Geary for Southland and Kathryn Palmer for Otago. Kathryn also holds the Early Learning Portfolio for the Otago/Southland Area. Many of you will already have relationships with our Early Childhood Advisors, but I have included their names and photos below for your reference. We have a multi-skilled, experienced and diverse team who are keen to engage with you.

Otago Southland team left to right: Robyn Powell, Advisor; Ernie Mather, Advisor; Kurt Chisholm, Senior Advisor; Karen Hurst, Senior Advisor; Chris Cooper, Advisor.
Not Present: Julie Crosswell, Senior Advisor / National Early Learning Taskforce

Please don’t hesitate to contact our advisors, or Mary or Kathryn or myself should you need advice or guidance around any issues. We look forward to hearing of your successes and working with you, your staff and communities to ensure the potential of our young children is fostered early.

Ngā mihi mahana 
Julie

Hon Hekia Parata, Minister of Education, has announced the 2015 Panel of Experts and Judging Panel.

“We need to continue to strengthen the value and status placed on the teaching profession and the Awards help to do this. By showcasing highly-effective teaching, they also drive improvement across the education sector”, says Ms Parata.

From today the Ministry’s new Connected Learning Advisory – Te Ara Whītiki service will give state and state-integrated schools a place to go to seek expert help with their digital learning questions.

As more and more schools are able to connect to high quality, ultrafast internet services there is an increasing need to help schools make the most of their ability to connectto online resources, tools, experts and more. Through this new advisory service, schools will be able to get free, independent advice on issues such as:

• how to use digital devices to teach the curriculum
• how to use social media to communicate with the school community
• how to lead their school through technological change, and
• which digital devices are available to match a school’s needs.

Schools involved in a pre-launch pilot have been enthusiastic about the new Connected Learning Advisory service. A lead teacher from Vogeltown School said "This service has been great. A very quick response and interesting advice which has made us think more about our journey". and Denyse Healy, Principal of Blenheim School said "The Connected Learning Advisory was valuable and relevant. As a first time principal, I found the advisory very easy to access and the advice was timely and useful".

We invite schools use our new Connected Learning Advisory service by filling in a Connected Learning Advisory form on TKI’s Enabling e-Learning web section or ringing the advisory phone line (0800 700 400) during business hours.

Frequently Asked Questions on this new service are included below. Or visit the Connected Learning Advisory page in TKI’s Enabling e-Learning web section.

Connected Learning Advisory – Frequently Asked Questions

New advisory service

What is the Connected Learning Advisory?

The Connected Learning Advisory – Te Ara Whītiki is a new service that provides free, consistent, unbiased advice on integrating digital technologies with learning for all state-funded schools and kura in New Zealand.

The new advisory will help schools make the most of the digital connections provided by the internet to access the multitude of resources and tools available online, and to better connect with experts, peers and the wider community through digital technologies.

The service includes:

• a helpdesk for schools/kura to seek support as they decide on their next steps in integrating digital technologies with learning, and 
• face-to-face and online regional and national professional learning events based on identified needs.

What is the Government investing in the advisory?

A total of $5 million will be invested in the service over three years, starting in 2015. CORE Education has been awarded the contract to operate Ministry of Education's Connected Learning Advisory service.

Why is the advisory needed?

This advisory is about helping teachers take advantage of digital technology to enhance learning in New Zealand’s schools.

Recent research from the 2020 Communications Trust has shown that over 75% of schools surveyed are noticing that digital technologies are helping to raise student achievement, but only 14% feel all their teachers have the necessary skills to manage classrooms with personal student devices.

The government has already invested in ultra-fast broadband and network upgrades, and many schools now have fully-funded, high quality internet access. The new advisory will help ensure teachers have the skills and knowledge to make the most of this technology platform.

Information for schools

Which schools can use the advisory?

The advisory is available to all state-funded and state-integrated primary and secondary schools and kura.
Independent schools, partnership schools and early childhood services are not included in the scope of the advisory.

What will the advisory cost schools?

The Ministry of Education is providing schools with the advisory helpdesk and professional learning events and resources to schools and kura at no cost.

How do schools access the advisory?

We recommend that a school nominee who is best placed to represent school’s digital technology interests make contact with the advisory on the school’s behalf. This might be a senior staff member, an ICT technician, or e-learning leader.
The query will be allocated to an appropriate advisor who will get in touch as soon as possible. Schools can:

• Call the advisory helpdesk on 0800 700 400, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
• Complete the online form for the advisory helpdesk at www.connectedlearning.org.nz
• Contact the advisory through the Connected Learning Advisory VLN group

What kind of questions can schools ask the advisory?

Schools and kura can contact the Connected Learning Advisory for support around integrating digital technologies for learning. Examples of questions and needs include:

• what digital technologies and resources are available for schools/kura
• how to use online technologies and digital devices to support the curriculum
• planning for the effective introduction of ultra-fast broadband and WiFi
• how to engage whānau and community using digital technologies
• how to lead your school through technological change
• sourcing laptops, tablets, and other ICT equipment for your classrooms, and
• BYOD, software management, data storage, network standards, video conferencing, ICT infrastructure, and modern learning practices using technology
• technology purchasing decisions to ensure best fit strategically for learning outcomes

What other information is available for schools

Further information on the advisory’s services is available via www.connectedlearning.org.nz and in Māori-medium

Schools can also visit the Ministry’s Enabling e-Learning website to access tools and support to ensure they can take full advantage of the opportunities provided by learning with digital technologies.

Parents or caregivers may be concerned about this threat. MPI has asked us to draw the following to your attention:

• MPI is confident that New Zealand infant and other formula is as safe today as it was before the threat. Parents should use it as they always have.
• No contamination has been detected in the over 40,000 batches of infant formula tested by MPI since the threat was made in November. These tests will be continued.
• Parents should always check all food packaging, including that for infant formula, for signs of tampering. MPI has a leaflet on how to check for this. It can be found at www.mpi.govt.nz, or in your local supermarket
• Supermarkets have put in place additional security measures around infant formula following the threat.
• If you have any questions about what to feed your baby, call Plunketline 0800 93 39 22. If your baby is sick call the Healthline (0800 611 116), or visit the family doctor. If you have any serious concerns about your child’s heath, call 111.

The NZSL@School initiative was set up in 2014, when the government announced $11m of new funding for NZSL programmes. It is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Education and the Combined Board of Kelston and van Asch Deaf Education Centres.  

For your school, this could mean extra funding and resources for Deaf students who use NZSL.  NZSL@School is designed to allow Deaf students to have daily access to fluent NZSL in the classroom and for school activities, using teacher’s aides and/or interpreters. There will also be the opportunity for NZSL tuition to Deaf students, their parents and family/whānau, school staff and hearing classmates.

There are initially 60 Deaf students in mainstream schools across New Zealand during 2015 who will receive these additional services. The two Deaf Education Centres are working with each of the schools where the students are enrolled to set up NZSL services and resources for 2015.

We are also looking at what schools are already doing to  support Deaf students, and their parents/whānau and schools are currently receiving and ways to continue to build capability through resources, training, technology and sharing practices among schools. This will involve a small project team of NZSL@School staff working with the parents and schools involved.  If your school is involved, the project team will be in touch during term two.

The overall aims of the NZSL@School initiative are to:

• build more responsive and effective education for Deaf students whose primary language is NZSL and who attend their local school
• increase the direct NZSL support and services to these Deaf students, their family/whanau and the schools they attend.

The ultimate aim is to ensure every Deaf student at a mainstream school receives the best possible education within a responsive and supportive environment.

Learn more

NZSL@School Initiative contacts and information updates

• For information about the NZSL@School services or access to the services, contact the Kelston Regional Manager, Michael Heeney on michael.heeney@kdec.school.nz or the van Asch acting Regional Manager Margaret Anderson on regservices@vanasch.school.nz.
• For information about the NZSL@School Initiative, please contact the Project Manager, Sonya Logan on slogan14@vanasch.school.nz.
• For ongoing NZSL@School updates see the Kelston Deaf Education Centre or the van Asch school websites.

NZSL resources and information

• NZSL on-line dictionary
• NZSL Overview
• Thumbs Up! An Introduction to New Zealand Sign Language
• Watch the NZSL initiative on YouTube

• Schools closed 16 March
• ECE's closed 16 March

List of School closures – Monday 16 March 2015

Confirmed ECE closures as at 10:30hrs, Monday 16 March 2015

Students aged 9 to 18 (Year 5 to Year 13) use a variety of digital devices to answer 35 online questions in English or te reo Māori about their lives and opinions. 

Students answer questions such as:  Where did you eat your dinner last night? Is bullying among students a problem at your school? About how many txt messages did you send yesterday?  Which two teams will contest the Rugby World Cup final? They are also asked to carry out activities such as weighing their schoolbag.

Ministry of Education  Deputy Secretary for Student Achievement Dr Graham Stoop says more than 1600 teachers from over 800 schools are taking part in CensusAtSchool in their maths and statistics classes from March 16 until May 29. The data will then be released for classroom analysis.

“Students love becoming ‘data detectives’.  This is a fun and engaging way for them to learn about the relevance of statistics to everyday life. CensusAtSchool is linked to the national statistics curriculum, so we encourage teachers in primary and secondary schools to take part,” says Dr Stoop.

The project is run every two years by the University of Auckland’s Department of Statistics, with support from Statistics NZ and the Ministry of Education.

Statistics NZ’s education manager Andrew Tideswell says statistical literacy is essential in a data-driven world. “Students with strong statistical skills are not only in demand in the workplace, they’re in a position to make informed decisions about the data around them every day.”

Notes to media

For more information on CensusAtSchool New Zealand 2015, visit http://www.censusatschool.org.nz. To find out which of your local schools are participating, click here.  To see the questions, click here.   

We are especially interested in hearing from:

• teachers in early childhood, kōhanga reo, Pacific early childhood centres, schools and kura
• people involved in initial teacher education and teacher professional development programmes
• education sector representative organisations.

Through the survey you can tell us what you are doing, what you would like to see done better, and how we can make this happen together.
This consultation is open now and will close on Tuesday 7 April 2015.

Find out more about the teaching practice and curriculum implementation survey.

Child, Youth and Family (CYF) has made changes to the referral form used by education professionals. The changes are based on feedback from the Ministry of Education and other agencies.

The new form’s purpose is to ensure CYF captures the right information about the children and young people referred to them.

There are no changes to how you report a concern about a child to CYF. Education professionals should still phone 0508 ED ASSIST (0508 332 774) to make a referral. This way CYF can work with you to assess your concerns.

Changes to the referral form mean you may be asked different questions during the discussion. Ask for a form to be emailed to you if you want to follow up your call with a written referral.

• Inland Revenue Help Desk
• Funding clarification for home-based services
• Monday-isation of public holidays
• Sale of an ECE service and funding implications

Inland Revenue Helpdesk

Inland Revenue has a General Business Helpdesk to support you with any questions you have; for example, how to complete PAYE/GST forms, what the tax payment dates are, and what you need to do to keep up with your tax obligations.

You can call 0800 377 774 to talk to a Customer Service Representative, who will arrange for a referral to their Community Compliance team for assistance. The team is available on this number on Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.

Or you can use these links to the Inland Revenue website to find more information:

• Introduction to business videos
• Online services demonstrations for business accounts
• Enquire about a business advisory visit/social policy seminar

Funding clarification for home-based services

Service providers are reminded that the primary home-based funding claim exception stated in Chapter 3-B-4 of the Funding Handbook – ‘funding must not be claimed for an educator’s own children’ – applies in all situations.

The additional funding rule specifies circumstances where funding can be claimed for educators who are family members living in the child’s home. This means family members who do not have an ongoing responsibility to provide care for the child (i.e. not parents or legal guardians).

Further information on the additional funding rule, including Frequently Asked Questions, is available on ECE Lead.

You can also email ece.funding@minedu.govt.nz for clarification of specific scenarios.

“Monday-isation” of public holidays

This year ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday. Under the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Act 2013, ANZAC Day is observed on the following Monday, 27 April 2015.

The ECE Funding Handbook states funding can only be claimed if the service is open on the day the public holiday is observed (for weekday services this will be the Monday).

Children enrolled on Mondays are not automatically enrolled on the public holiday unless that public holiday (e.g. ANZAC Day) is specifically cited in their enrolment agreement as a day the service is open and the child is specifically enrolled for that public holiday.

If the service is open on the ‘Monday-ised’ public holiday, funding may be claimed for children:

1. who attend the service on that day, and
2. who are enrolled to attend on that specific holiday.

Absences can be claimed only for children who were enrolled to attend on that specific holiday.

Public holidays must not be included in advance funding claims. These days will be paid for as part of “wash-up” funding.

For more information or clarification please contact your Ministry of Education regional office.

Sale of an ECE service and funding implications

The Ministry of Education does not get involved in the details of a sale and purchase of an ECE service. Parties and their lawyers should, however, ensure that funding implications are clearly considered within the sale and purchase agreement, including provision for continuity of funding data to enable correct completion of the RS7 for each period.

The Ministry does not split wash-up and advance payments – these are paid to the account on record at the time the payment is processed.

For more information contact the ECE Operational Funding team on 0800 ECE ECE or email ECE.funding@minedu.govt.nz.

• Playground standard review
• Education for Māori: Relationships between schools and whānau 
• Hand hygiene safety reminder
• Offering OSCAR and other out of school programmes
• First aid in ECE services
• Reminder about emergency preparedness
• Early Childhood Advisory Committee

Playground standard review

Standards New Zealand has initiated a review of the current standard for playground equipment and surfacing, which was published in 2004 (NZS 5828:2004). Appendix A of the standard relates specifically to supervised early childhood education (ECE) services and kōhanga reo.

The Ministry of Education and representatives from the ECE sector are part of the expert technical committee undertaking the review.

The scope of the review is primarily to adopt updates to the European standards that make up the majority of the New Zealand standard, and to refresh the appendices.

The proposed draft changes are unlikely to mean any change of practice for service providers.

Standards New Zealand will put up the draft changes for public comment in early April.

Service providers can access a free copy of the handbook for ECE services that supports these standards through the Standards New Zealand online shop.

Education for Māori: Relationships between schools and whānau

The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) has released a report into relationships between schools and Māori whānau that may interest you, your staff and the whānau you work with.

The Education for Māori: Relationships between schools and Māori whānau audit report says that good relationships between home and school can have an important influence on Māori student achievement.

While the report is based on the schooling sector, the overall concept of quality relationships between home and formal learning settings also applies to the early learning sector. You may like to share the report with staff and whānau. Many of its findings can be grounds for conversations about the way you work together.

Sixty percent of whānau surveyed believe they have effective relationships with their local school, which is a good start. But the report cautioned that some schools do not focus enough on improving relationships because they believe they are in better shape than whānau think they are.

The report also refers to a Ministry self-review tool that you may want to explore. The tool helps schools and whānau understand what an ‘educationally powerful’ relationship looks like. Again, it is designed for the schooling sector but you may find some of the ideas it raises are useful for your work.

This is the second OAG report in a five-year programme of work to find out how well the education system supports Māori students to achieve their potential.

Hand hygiene safety reminder

To ensure the good health of their staff and children, early childhood education services should ensure everyone at the service washes their hands thoroughly.

The Ministry of Health advises that washing hands with soap and water, and drying them properly, is sufficient for hygiene and to prevent the spread of disease.

Where possible, staff should supervise children when they wash their hands to check they are being thorough.

Use of hand sanitiser is not necessary if there is an ample supply of warm water and soap. Services providing hand sanitiser must supervise its use by children, as misuse, such as consumption, can have very serious health consequences.

If your service uses hand sanitiser, then it should be included in your regular health and safety checks as a potentially harmful substance. The risk it poses to children should be eliminated or minimised through where it is placed and through general supervision practices.

The Ministry of Health has some helpful resources on handwashing for both services and children.

• Nga Kupu Oranga Healthy Messages: A health and safety resource for early childhood services [PDF; 268kb]
• Homai kai rimia mō ngā ringa mā
• High Five for Clean Hands

Offering OSCAR and other out of school programmes

With school holidays coming up, some early childhood education centres may consider offering out of school care for school-aged children.

Centres should note that children enrolled at school cannot participate in an ECE programme offered at an ECE centre.

OSCAR and other out of school programmes can be delivered in licensed ECE premises outside the ECE service’s licensed hours.

However, during licensed hours, these programmes can be delivered in separate or adjacent premises to the licensed ECE service and can share some of the ECE service’s amenities.

For more information contact your regional Ministry of Education office.

First aid in ECE services

We want to remind people that early childhood education (ECE) centres and kōhanga reo must at all times have one first aid qualified person present for every 50 children attending.

For home-based services there must be a first aid qualified adult present at all times while children are attending.

To be counted as first aid qualified an adult must:

• have a current New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) approved first aid qualification:
• adults in ECE centres and kōhanga reo need unit standards 6401 and 6402 or 26551 and 26552
• educators in home-based services need unit standard 25459

OR

• be a registered medical practitioner or nurse with a current practising certificate, or a qualified ambulance officer or paramedic.

If a child is injured, any required first aid must be administered or supervised by an adult meeting these qualification requirements.

First aid certificates must be issued by an NZQA-registered first aid provider and are kept current through attending a refresher course every two years.

For more information please look at the First Aid section on our website.

Reminder about emergency preparedness

Early childhood education (ECE) services and kōhanga reo need to be prepared for a range of potential emergencies (including fire, chemical contamination, threats, earthquake) to keep children safe. This includes situations:

• when an emergency evacuation is required, and
• when it would be dangerous to leave the premises.

We want to remind services their written procedures and supplies need to cover all types of emergencies, not just those requiring evacuation.

Further information about the requirements for emergency planning for ECE centres can be found on ECE Lead under Health and Safety Criterion 7 – Emergency Procedures and Supplies.

The requirements for home-based services are under Health and Safety Criterion 4 – Emergency Evacuation.

For ngā kōhanga reo the information is under Health and Safety Criterion 7 – Emergency Supplies.

The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management and the Ministry of Education have also produced a template for planning for a variety of emergencies [DOC; 706kb].

Early Childhood Advisory Committee

The Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC) is an important part of the Ministry of Education’s relationship with the early childhood education (ECE) sector.

ECAC is made up of representatives from ECE sector groups, broadly representing licensed ECE services and kōhanga reo.

ECAC meets four times per year with senior Ministry of Education managers to share information, provide feedback on proposals and discuss strategic challenges.

The overall purpose of the group is to foster a partnership between Government and the ECE sector to achieve common goals.

The most recent meeting was held on 4 March. There will be three further meetings this year on 3 June, 2 September and 2 December.

Information from meetings is published on the Ministry of Education website.

• Te Rā o te Raukura Festival
• Partnering with EFKS NZ
• Te Matatini 2015 – Celebrating our culture together

Te Rā o te Raukura Festival

Thousands of guests turned up to enjoy the many stalls on display at the annual Te Rā o te Raukura family festival in the heart of Lower Hutt at Te Whiti Park, Waiwhetu. Over two days, 31 January and 1 February, families came together to explore locally made crafts, artefacts, clothing and delicious cuisine, and to gather information from education, health, and social service providers.

The two-day festival provided a valuable opportunity for Ministry of Education staff to engage with the community in a fun and familiar setting to promote early learning.

Parents, whānau and tamariki were welcomed into a colourful early learning space with comfortable reading areas, tables for playdough and a large Connect Four game that provided opportunities for them to play and learn together.

Information about the importance of and options for early learning was shared and questions answered. Educational resources were also available to whānau including ‘Ka Hao te Rangatahi’, NCEA calendars and student study planners, Whānau Education Action Plans and a wider array of reading material in English and Māori.

We were able to refer whānau to other educational promotional spaces at the event for further assistance with their educational questions, such as Victoria University, Kōkiri Seaview, Te Rōpu Āwhina, Te Puni Kōkiri (Get the Cred – NCEA game), and the Māori Education Trust (Scholarships).

A true sense of harmony permeated this two-day festival as tunes from the Wellington Māori Cultural Society Marae Haka on day one, and Ardijah, Annie Crummer and Bella Kalolo on day two, filled the open spaces.

Te Rā o te Raukura family festival was first staged 21 years ago at Waiwhetu Marae, Lower Hutt. As it grew, it shifted to neighbouring Te Whiti Park.

Te Rā o te Raukura is significant to the people of Waiwhetu and the tangata whenua in the Wellington Region. The ‘Raukura’ was used as a symbol of peace, love and harmony by the prophet Te Whiti o Rongomai at Parihaka. He and fellow prophet Tohu Kakahi led their people to passive resistance and patient obedience as an armed constabulary invaded the peaceful village of Parihaka on 5 November 1881.

Partnering with EFKS NZ

The Early Learning Taskforce has partnered with Ekalesia Fa’apotopotoga Kerisiano i Samoa (EFKS NZ) as part of the Pasifika Church Partnerships Strategy to explore opportunities to support EFKS NZ’s young people and their families on the education pathway.

To get the ball rolling, in May 2014 EFKS NZ held an education conference, supported by the Ministry of Education’s Pasifika Unit and the Early Learning Taskforce, for education experts in their network. The outcome of the conference was the development of the EFKS NZ Education Action Plan. The Plan outlines high-level education goals and actions to contribute to the Government’s Better Public Service goals and the Ministry’s Pasifika Education Plan. The strategy was officially presented to Minister Parata in June 2014.

From 73 churches nationwide, which reach 25,000 members, EKFS NZ initially identified 414 children who were not currently participating in ECE. By November 2014 they had already supported 146 children and their parents to enrol in early learning. The next step will be setting up playgroups in churches with significant numbers of non-participating children.

Further gains are being made as a result of the partnership with the Early Learning Taskforce. EFKS NZ have established a national trust to drive a more collaborative and co-operative approach to achieve their mission ‘to realise the potential of our People’. EFKS NZ are making inroads into partnering with other government agencies to explore activities such as rheumatic fever awareness and social housing.

Te Matatini 2015 – Celebrating our culture together

Earlier this month Ōtautahi Christchurch played host to a five-day kapa haka spectacular – Te Matatini 2015 – the ultimate showcase of Māori performing arts, iwi pride and tough competition!

Daily crowds of 12,000 gathered at Pūtaringamotu (Hagley Park) to watch performances by the top 45 kapa haka groups from across Aotearoa and Australia. Parents, caregivers and schools took the opportunity to immerse thousands of kids of all ages and cultures in the colours, sights and sounds of the festival. It was a chance to encourage budding kapa haka performers, to excite Māori language speakers, and to expose young New Zealanders to a modern expression of our identity and culture.

The Ministry of Education stand was a hive of activity promoting education and distributing resources and information directly to parents, whānau and tamariki. Particularly popular were the pānui pukapuka (Māori language reading) sessions and tā moko stamps. The Ministry also took the opportunity to identify children not engaged in early learning and to assist whānau to find services that will meet their needs.

Over 8,000 Māori language picture books and 750 Ka Hao Te Rangatahi activity and information packs were given out to children, parents and grandparents.

The Ministry has established a strategic partnership with Te Matatini – the organisation charged with running the Te Matatini festival – and will continue to be involved in regional and national kapa haka events over the coming years. We want the same excitement, passion, pride, identity and commitment demonstrated at Te Matatini to be experienced by every child in education. To do this well, parents and whānau, communities and educators need to work together – and the Ministry needs to support this.

Keep an eye out for Māori cultural and kapa haka events near you. The next national kapa haka event will be for primary schools and will be hosted in the Rangitāne region later this year. The next Te Matatini Festival will be hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu and will be held in the Hawke’s Bay in 2017.