MEDIA RELEASE

25 May 2012

NZCA welcomes Minister’s review of quality recommendations

Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association (NZCA) chief executive Nancy Bell today welcomed the Minister’s announcement that the Ministry of Education has been asked to provide advice on recommendations from two early childhood education sector advisory groups.

The two expert groups were set up earlier this year and included NZCA’s Dr Janis Carroll-Lind who was part of the group which advised on improving quality for under two year olds in early childhood education; and Nancy Bell who was on the advisory group looking at improving sector wide quality.

Nancy Bell said today that “The early childhood education sector is united around the drive to improve quality. The recommendations from the two advisory groups reflect the sector’s priorities.

“High quality early childhood education has the ability to transform children’s lives and future educational achievement. On the other hand, poor quality early childhood education is harmful – especially for under two year olds.”

NZCA eagerly awaits the Minister’s further announcements in August.

Commenting on two key recommendations, Nancy Bell said “NZCA’s members have long wanted to see better child: teacher ratios. We also welcome the focus on increasing the percentage of qualified teachers in early childhood education.

“We hope in the context of yesterday’s Budget announcements that implementation of these recommendations can be properly funded.”

ENDS

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