Barnardos on home-based early childhood education

Barnardos says proposals on home-based early childhood education are a step in the right direction


Barnardos welcomes Government’s proposals published this week to improve home-based early childhood education (ECE) in Aotearoa New Zealand. These reflect many of the themes Barnardos has discussed during earlier consultation phases, to ensure quality of home-based education.

Keith Newton, General Manager Barnardos Early Learning, says “We are pleased to see Government setting out its proposals for home-based early learning in its ‘Review of Home-based ECE’ Discussion Document. If implemented, many of the proposals have the potential to strengthen the quality of home-based ECE, for the benefit of children and tamariki in their early years and beyond, and their families and whānau.”

Barnardos is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading children’s charity, working towards the vision of ‘An Aotearoa New Zealand where every child shines bright’. As part of its services offered around the country, Barnardos provides home-based early learning to all children and tamariki.

Mr Newton says that “Barnardos has been providing home-based services since 1978, and we are committed to the safety, learning and wellbeing of all tamariki. Barnardos welcomes proposals for changes that will support the home-based learning environment, as home-based early learning provides an important choice for parents and caregivers”.

Noting that the Government’s proposals cover aspects such as the establishment of minimum qualification standards, the health and safety of children, and strengthening the role of the Education Review Office, Mr. Newton says that Barnardos “supports changes that will enable tamariki to learn and grow in safe, nurturing environments. We will be actively participating in the consultation process on this Discussion Document, and we encourage parents, educators and service providers to also have their say on the discussion themes and proposals.”

Mr Newton says that Barnardos is looking forward to continuing to engage with the Ministry of Education and the wider early learning sector through the consultation process, and that Barnardos “aims to ensure tamariki and whānau are at the centre of policy, legislative and practice changes affecting them, and that change is supported by sustainable and effective systems and funding.”

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