About the Early Learning Action Plan
Nearly all New Zealand children attend early learning services before starting school. The early learning sector includes kindergartens, ngā kōhanga reo, playcentres, education and care services (such as childcare centres or preschools), home-based ECE services, hospital-based services, playgroups, ngā puna kōhungahunga, and Pacific Island playgroups.
He taonga te tamaiti – Every child a taonga: Early learning action plan 2019-2029 sets the high level direction and vision for early learning for the next ten years.
He taonga te tamaiti – Every child a taonga: Early learning action plan 2019-2029 [PDF 3MB]
The starting point of the action plan is that every child is a precious taonga, born with inherent potential for growth and development and with enduring connections to their ancestors and heritage.
The action plan outlines five interdependent objectives and 25 actions intended to work together to raise quality, improve equity and enable choice of service type.
The most significant actions in the plan relate to improving adult:child ratios; moving towards a fully qualified teacher workforce in teacher-led centres through incentives and regulation; improving the consistency and levels of teacher salaries and conditions; and the development of a network management function for Government.
The action plan is aligned with other system reviews, strategies and initiatives underway in the education sector and across government, and also supports the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy.
Early Learning Action Plan – Kōrero Mātauranga | Education Conversation website