Early Childhood Teachers with International Qualifications.

[Margarita]

Hi Guy's

I was just reading through an email from the Ministry today about changes to the Early Childhood sector following this years budget and I know there are a few people on here looking at Early Childhood as a line of work so I thought I'd pass on a few pieces of information I found interesting.

The first being the the NZQA are now relaxing their rules a little on International qualifications and making it easier for those with an international qualification at level 7 in the area of Early Childhood to have their qualification accepted. I know this will be good news for many people out there as it's always been a worry and a struggle for us internationally trained teachers to be recognized and many have had to do that extra year learning what they already know all over again. I'm not to sure what their planning to do but the email said for those with a level 7 qualification who could show their course covered core components of an NZ degree or diploma in ECE it would now be easier to have it approved. One big hand clap for that change I'm sure

On the down side though the government is getting rid of the extra funding for centers who meet or exceed an 80% qualified ratio. The funding for the ratio below that will still stand (think it's 50%) but there is going to now be no incentive for centers to gain a higher qualified staffing ratio. The government is now saying they want a push towards life experience and "special skills" that unqualified staff can bring especially in the baby and toddler area which really is just a line they are spinning to warrant the cut in funding. How this will effect the ECE sector is unclear yet and only something that will really be seen with time. It could be argued that centers aren’t going to pay the higher wage for qualified staff if they are no longer receiving the funding for them so there could me more unqualified people taking up positions. This may effect the demand for jobs in the EC sector although for now it's still on the LTSS so no need to really worry to much yet although it's something to think about in the future. It is also possible to conclude that the work load for those qualified in a centre if the rate of qualified teachers drops is going to increase as I know where I am only qualified teachers or those in training can actually do their learning portfolios and all the paperwork that goes with it.

Lastly there is some changes to the incentive grants and funding for training. Incentive grants are being reduced and the guidelines for who get's them tightened not sure to much of the details but I know at least one in practice provider who has put their courses on hold and is no longer taking students this year until they see what's going on.

So that’s it, there could be much more that I didn't understand but for now It's kind of a mixed bag. Some good news with a little not so great but then that’s budgets for you. We all knew cuts were going to be made as they had to be so really it could have also been a lot worse. At least for now the 20 hours free ECE still stands and there had been many a speculation that it wouldn't.

[sophiedb]

Good news for all the ECE people out there, even if it is a mixed bag

I'm glad to hear the 20 hours is standing too - we might be in a position to make use of that, soon!

[Tia Maria]

I think the 'free' bit was dropped a while ago. Since the recent (pre-budget) changes to '20 hours ECE' there have been a few centres not willing/able to offer this. From what I can tell it is due to this part:

No fees for 20 Hours ECE
ECE services cannot charge fees for the hours of 20 Hours ECE; however they can require you to pay fees for your child’s other hours of enrolment.

ECE services may set fees on an hourly, daily, sessional, or weekly basis. The ECE service must be able to show you how they are only charging fees for the hours outside of 20 Hours ECE.

If your child is receiving 20 Hours ECE from a home-based ECE service, you cannot be asked to pay fees to the service or directly to the caregiver/educator/nanny for the hours of 20 Hours ECE.

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/Parents/Ea...o4Parents.aspx

Some childhood centres offer a lot of extras and this has been traditionally absorbed by their fees, meaning that they have higher fees than other centres and parents can look around and see what suits them best. From what I can tell only a certain amount is offered to the childcare centre under the '20 hours ECE' and they have to make up the rest of the fees for those 20 hours by calling it a donation. However, donations are not compulsory and this leads to the very real problem that many parents will use the extras but not pay. As a result the childhood centres will no longer be able to meet the costs of all the extras and they will have to be dropped. Sometimes 'extras' are resources and play equipment, sometimes they are in the form of extra staff.

I suspect this will only be an issue for centres that see themselves as offering a 'premium' service with more staff and lots of extras, or, for those who find the whole accounting/paperwork side a bit of a headache.

So although it says it is for everyone there are many centres that don't offer it as they are worried they could make a big loss, one worked out it could be as much as $20k a year. So if it's important to get these hours then it's worth asking if they are on offer before you start and your child gets settled somewhere, rather than assume they will be introduced.

I think it's one of the saddest parts of the budget that they are removing emphasis on qualified teachers at ECE. It seems maddness to, on the one hand complain how ill prepared children are for school, and on the other hand remove the staff that can prepare them. That is not to belittle what the less qualified staff do, it's just a shame not to encourage everyone to train further.

I think in well off areas, the fees will go up as centres will not want to dismiss qualified staff. I think overall the amount qualified postions will decrease, as when a qualified teacher leaves they will be replaced with a less qualified one in order to save money. So children in less well off areas will experience a lower standard and be less prepared for school, this will then have a knock on effect for new entrant teachers, who will have to spend a lot of their time teaching the basics instead of what they have been trained to do.

Lots of children will end up playing 'catch up' from day 1 and this can stay with a child through all their schooling.

Cheers

Tia

[sophiedb]

Interesting...

How does NZ do as far as childminders are concerned, do you know?

We're lucky at the mo in that DD (nearly 3) does very well in that environment, and the childminder takes up every piece of training she can get. She's in her second year of an Early Years degree too (though will obviously take her a fair old while to qualify, what with working 50 hours a week and doing all the EYFS paperwork too..).

I've been wondering for a while whether DD would do better in a preschool as she gets older, but the trips out that they can go on with a childminder seem to outweigh preschools massively. She currently goes there 3 days per week, and will typically visit the beach on Monday, a farm on Tuesday and a playgroup run by a small network of childminders on the Wednesday.

But I have little idea how it all works in NZ..

(um, apologies for going a bit off-topic...)

[Tia Maria]

Interesting...

How does NZ do as far as childminders are concerned, do you know?

We're lucky at the mo in that DD (nearly 3) does very well in that environment, and the childminder takes up every piece of training she can get. She's in her second year of an Early Years degree too (though will obviously take her a fair old while to qualify, what with working 50 hours a week and doing all the EYFS paperwork too..).

I've been wondering for a while whether DD would do better in a preschool as she gets older, but the trips out that they can go on with a childminder seem to outweigh preschools massively. She currently goes there 3 days per week, and will typically visit the beach on Monday, a farm on Tuesday and a playgroup run by a small network of childminders on the Wednesday.

But I have little idea how it all works in NZ..

(um, apologies for going a bit off-topic...)

In our area there are lots of families where both parents work so use of childminders are common.

Childminders seem to be found via word of mouth, or places such as PORSE, (I think if you search for this on the forum I listed the costs I paid once).

www.porse.co.nz

Lots of people mix and match services and have their child enrolled for some mornings in a Kindy and use a childminder around that. If you're lucky you may be able to share a childminder, so they are with another family while your child is in Kindy and vice versa, and you only pay a share of the fees.

It did take me a while to find a suitable childminder, via Porse, but that was probably because the hours etc I needed were not very standard. As a general rule the older or more qualified/experienced they were the more they charged.

My childminder was also part of a small network of childminders that got together - I'm not sure how typical this is.

When the kids turn 4, and in particular in the last 6 months, there is a lot of prep work towards school at Kindys, (or there should be!), so they will arrange visits to schools, identify other children who are also attending the same school, (so you can maybe arrange playdates), work on the concept of mat time and other group routines the local schools use. They should also use the same terminology as local schools for how to write letters.

If your child only goes a couple of mornings it is worth quizzing the staff for how they prepare for the local schools or if there are any days they will be doing visits. With some of the things, like handwriting, they'll be able to pass on a sheet for a childminder to do. For other things like, say they know the local school always does brain gym or gives a brain snack, then you'll be more aware to emphasize these ideas at home just by talking about them more.

I thought our childminder was great, so it was worth the wait to find her, so maybe allow for 4-6 weeks to find one that suits you and your child. In the same respect waiting lists for certain Kindys can be up to a year!

Cheers

Tia