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Welcome to the Office of Early Childhood Education
The OECE is a national organisation for the ECE sector and public adviser, championing high-quality education and care for every child
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- Provides membership support to ECE services, teachers, researchers, and community partners
- Actively contributes to sector analysis, research, and policy development
- Advances evidence-based best practices that prioritise children’s interests and wellbeing
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Teacher Member Posts
What’s all the Fuss About Playdough?
Playing with playdough is an everyday occurrence at many ECE services, but the humble activity is subject to frequent debate with suggestions that playdough and other food based play ideas are culturally insensitive.
The debate is not new – it is revived every few years and has been around for at least the past 30 years.
One debate was
Ideas for Play: Literacy by Emma Smoldon and Megan Howell
Ideas for Play: Literacy by Emma Smoldon and Megan Howell.
Ideas for Play: Literacy is a fresh NZ book written for families at home, parent educators in playcentres, and early childhood teachers.
All elements from the text, graphics and design, and publication combine in making this a really unique book. The first thing you notice is how at
Terminating a Child’s Enrolment Because of Behaviour Issues
When Behaviour Issues Get to be Unmanageable.
A member has asked if her service can legally terminate the enrolment of a child whose behaviour has left other children crying, disrupts the programme, and requires constant individual supervision.
She’s worried what will happen if the parent goes to the local newspaper. She’s worried also about
Associate Teacher and Centre Information on Supporting Student Kaiako & Payment
Associate Teacher and Centre Information on Supporting Student Kaiako & Payment.
If you’re a qualified, registered teacher and you’re ready to start supporting student kaiako as an Associate Teacher, we’ve got some helpful information to make the experience as rich and rewarding for everyone involved.
Practicums are a keystone of
Service Provider Member Posts
Job Descriptions
Job description templates for various centre and home-based positions and examples.
Creating an effective job description is an important part of the hiring and employment process.
An appealing job description will attract the best candidates for the job you are advertising and will ensure you have a range of different applicants to choose
Health and Safety at Work Act Requirements
This is an easy to read summary and early childhood friendly perspective on the Health and Safety at Work Act. It also points to specific implications for centres, home-based and franchised ECE operations of the new H&S Act.
Expectations
This Act means that ECE owners/directors/managers/senior leaders can’t escape from being accountable
Conflicts of Interest
Conflict of Interest.
A conflict of interest is when you, someone you are close to, employed by, or are personally friendly with may stand to benefit or gain in some way from a decision made at a meeting or within the service.
The board/committee, management, families and all involved in the early childhood service need to be confident that
Job Description for an Area Manager
Below is a template you can use and adapt for a job description for an area manager position (for centres and/or for home-based licensed services).
If you would like more guidance and ideas go to the main article about writing JDs.
Service name or Logo
Position description
POSITION/ROLE:
E.g. Area Manager/Regional Manager
PO
Research Library – Today’s Featured Articles
A Whole School Approach to Language Development in the Early Years
Research findings on supporting children entering school with speech and language delay. Concerning is that the skills necessary for teachers to have to support children are lacking within initial teacher training, which does not support children who are most vulnerable before and after entry to school. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
How to do Action-Based Research or an Inquiry, and Writing Your Report
What is Action Research?
Action research is defined in the glossary as:
A hands-on approach to research for change in a setting and/or to one’s own practices, thinking and knowledge. Action research can be a collaborative endeavour or carried out by an individual.
When action research is being undertaken to bring about change in a se
Designing An Early Childhood Study and Starting It!
Designing Your Study and How to Get Started
Here are articles we think will help advise you best on designing early childhood research and support you with helpful tips through any tough times.
Start by checking out all the published articles in the NZ-International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal on this website (over 25 years
Female Social Justice Leaders in the Early Childhood Profession
Female social justice leaders in the early childhood profession and the leadership of Sonja Davies. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.
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