Tēnā koutou Home-based Agencies, Staff and Educators,

I am writing on behalf of the NZHECEA Board to share a few key messages about responding to the recently released ECE Taskforce report.

The recommendations in the ECE Taskforce report pose some challenges and risks to Home-based but also offer some opportunities. Much of the language of the report is centred on teacher-led, centre based services. This translates into a proposed new funding model that could (if implemented as recommended) severely reduce the level of government funding to Home-based. The Ministry of Education has put the taskforce report out for public consultation which closes on 8 August 2011.

Responding to Consultation:

The NZHECEA has been collating consultation documents from its membership which has been used to formulate survey templates which can be used by Agencies, Staff, Educators and Parents to respond to the consultation.

If you can, please read the report, share information with each other, start conversations about the possible implications for home-based and then respond to the consultation survey. It is important that as many home-based voices as possible are heard.

The taskforce report is online at www.taskforce.ece.govt.nz. A key essay referencing the new funding structure is Essay 3 - Reforming Funding Mechanisms, and the detail of one proposed example of the new funding may be found in an 'Exemplar' spreadsheet right at the very bottom of this essay online.

Information on how to take part in the consultation process is on www.nzhomebasedece.org.nz  website. The Ministry of Education process involves completing an online questionnaire, or downloading a questionnaire to complete and post back.

If you are a member of face-book, there is active discussion underway on the Stop NZ Government ECE Funding Cuts for home-based care kids face-book site and there is also a ECE Taskforce face-book site. But neither of these forums is likely to be considered as consultation. Feedback needs to go to the Ministry of Education.

Key Points to Consider for Consultation Responses

About Home-based ECE:

• Home-based ECE is a teacher led service that provides high-quality early childhood education to the children who attend.


• With around 6000 Home-based ECE educators including many in more rural areas with few ECE options, Home-based ECE is often the only accessible choice.


• The fact that Home-based ECE provides high-quality early childhood education can be evidenced by objective indicators such as our relatively low average rate of ERO supplementary reviews (approx 5%) compared to the overall average of other teacher led service types (approx 11%).


• Home-based ECE provides the lowest group size especially vital for secure attachment with young children.

About the Taskforce Report:

• Qualified teachers are not the only indicator of a quality service however qualification based training can enhance existing skills.


• The Taskforce acknowledges that small group size, high teacher to child ratio and parental involvement are key to quality in ECE.


• The distinction between 'high quality, teacher-led , centre based services' and 'other services' and the recommendation of a funding model that differentiates on this basis, is seriously concerning.


• Quality delivery of ECE is vitally important but how this could be measured and reported is concerning. An approach that is 'tick box' or standards based would be destructive to the holistic philosophy of Te Whaariki.

Further Action

We urge you all to complete a survey and encourage all of your parents to do the same, to ensure that Home-based ECE's views are heard loud and clear by the government.

Carol Stovold, President NZHECEA