With the Government targeting spending in early childhood education (ECE)
towards funding more places in ECE with a view to increasing enrolments of 0 – 5 year olds, it is now more important that parents make well-researched choices
about their child’s care.  My ECE makes it easier for parents to understand the most important things they need to know about ECE and how to choose the best service for their child.  Parents will now have everything they need to choose an ECE service and get the best from their child’s service -- all at one place. My ECE will offer access to a directory of early childhood services across New Zealand along with statistics and ratings, and descriptions of the different types of service available. It will also feature information about funding and the different fees, minimum regulations and standards for ECE services, and the New Zealand ECE curriculum in an easy to understand format, along with advice on all aspects of early education and care with everything from settling a child into a new service to healthy eating.

Several resources have been developed to help parents take a more active role in their child’s ECE service. For example, a parent complaint form and a document outlining the basic rights of children in ECE are both available on the website.

 See more information about My ECE by clicking here. 

Congratulations to Pip and the team at Educarents Queenstown.  Special thanks to Suzanne and Amanda for showcasing the outstanding job they do of providing high quality early childhood education to children in their care.

The theme for Immunisation Week this year is “Protecting your child and your community by immunising on time, every time” and there will be a particular focus on whooping cough, pneumococcal disease and measles.

Many New Zealanders, especially babies under one year old, have experienced  significant illness during the current whooping cough outbreak. Vaccinations can help protect the health of individual children and prevent the spread of disease throughout the community.

For more information visit http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/immunisation

The third annual survey conducted by the ChildForum Early Childhood Network shows respondents are concerned about what is happening in the sector generally, and how this in turn is affecting services, parents, children, and staff.

Read More: http://www.childforum.com/policy-issues/surveys-and-ece-sector-a-family-data/988-state-of-early-childcare-education-sector-2012-outlook-for-2013.html#ixzz2OLQ8r2PA
 

Educarents supports the White Paper for Vulnerable Children announced by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today, which includes plans to set up a Child Protect Line to provide a single point of contact for all New Zealanders to report any concerns they have about children or young people.

Educarers are trained in recognising and responding to child abuse.  We encourage friends, family and whanau to work togethether to improve the standard of care and nurturing provided to our tamariki, and welcome the opportunity to have a dedicated point of contact to refer to.
 
http://beehive.govt.nz/feature/white-paper-vulnerable-children?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+beehive-govt-nz%2FMinister%2FPaulaBennett+%28Paula+Bennett+-+beehive.govt.nz%29

Educarents welcomes the review of home-based early childhood education (ECE) announced by the Minister of Education, Honourable Hekia Parata. 
The review is in response to recommendations made in reports by the ECE Taskforce and two Sector Advisory Groups which were established to focus on improving the quality of ECE services.  Their reports found that a review of home-based services has the potential to raise overall quality and improve the accountability of home-based networks.  
The Ministry will consult with the home-based ECE sector on proposed changes before final decisions are made and is expected to be completed in April 2013.

For more information see the Ministry of Education ECE lead website http://www.lead.ece.govt.nz/ManagementInformation/RecentAnnouncements/HomeBasedECEReview.aspx 

ERO has completed Educarents ECE Services first ERO review and has evaluated our service as being one that provides children and their families with care options that are based on warm and nurturing relationships.

They recognised that management access good quality professional development for educarers and families to support them in their roles and that educarers know the children and their families well and respond appropriately to their needs and expectations.

ERO reported that children in Educarents programme benefit from:
- a focus on nurturing relationships that means they are cared for by adults who know them and their families well
- a range of interesting play activities and equipment to help encourage their interests and development
- regular involvement with their local community and good opportunities to be involved with larger groups of children.

Read the full report here Educarents ERO Report 03/04/2012

The report Who Cares? Mothers, Daycare and Child Wellbeing in New
Zealand - commissioned by Family First New Zealand and prepared
by British psychologist Aric Sigman - looks at the potential impacts of
separating a child from their parent in the first few years of life.

This report looks at the increasing number of children who spend time in
daycare in NZ and claims attending daycare for extended periods of time could
have potential long-term consequences for children's mental and physical health
as adults.  Dr Sigman says children in centre-based care produce a higher level
of cortisol which is the stress hormone produced in response to fear and
uncertainty, and too much of it has been linked to a lowered immune system.