Food-related choking at early learning services
On 31 March, TVNZ’s Sunday programme ran a story about a terrible accident involving a child choking on a piece of apple at an early learning service.
This incident demonstrates how quickly events can happen and the importance of supervision when children are eating. After the incident we reviewed the guidance on supervision and health and safety management.
Below are links to licensing criteria and guidance relating to supervision, food and first aid. We have included Ministry of Health guidance on food and links to their website. We also have included information from St John and links to their website.
Ministry of Education guidance on supervising children while they are eating
All babies and children must be closely supervised while they are eating. Adults must sit with the children, so their attention is focused and not on completing other tasks. Children must only eat when seated and be encouraged to concentrate only on eating.
Babies under the age of 6 months, and other children unable to drink independently, must be held semi-upright when being fed and are not to be propped up and left unattended.
Read more about supervising children while they are eating, food served to children and first aid on our website.
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| Critical Need to Know and Action |
The minimum rates for attestation are being updated
The Ministry is currently in the process of reviewing the minimum rates that must be paid for attestation of certificated teachers’ salaries.
Teacher-led ECE services must attest whether they are paying their certificated teachers at or above the minimum rates that are published on education.govt.nz. Higher funding rates are available to services that pay all qualified and certificated teachers employed by their service at certain minimum salary levels.
Our website will be updated in the next few weeks. The new rates will be confirmed in the May edition of He Pānui Kōhungahunga.
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Minimum wage increase
On 1 April 2019, the adult minimum wage increased to $17.70 per hour. All employees have to be paid at least the minimum hourly wage.
More information is available on the website below.
Employment New Zealand
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Moratorium on disposal of records relevant to Royal Commission on abuse in care
On 28 March 2019, the Chief Archivist revoked the authority to dispose of all records held by public offices that may be relevant to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions.
Early learning services are not subject to the same record-keeping requirements as schools. However, the Royal Commission has indicated that “the same expectation” of preservation of records applies to faith-based institutions and “all other bodies involved in providing care”. This description would cover early learning facilities.
The Ministry strongly advises early learning facilities to ensure that relevant records are not disposed of for the duration of the Royal Commission’s Inquiry. Find out more about how this affects your service on education.govt.nz.
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Cohort entry to apply only to children aged 5 and over
It is proposed that from 1 January 2020, schools can adopt and enforce a cohort entry policy, after consultation with their communities. Children will be able to start in 2 groups per term, either on the first day of term or at a mid-point during a term. The policy can only apply to children over 5 years of age. Children can start in groups up until they turn 6 years of age, after which school enrolment is compulsory.
Read more about the Bill's proposals on education.govt.nz.
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| General Information Updates |
Advice following the Christchurch mosque attacks
Recovery and wellbeing advice
A collection of resources focused on recovery and wellbeing is now available on our website.
Recovery and wellbeing advice after the tragic event of 15 March
Emergencies and traumatic incidents
Events in Christchurch last month show the unpredictable nature of our world. Planning and preparation are important steps to help services plan for an emergency or traumatic incident before one occurs. A collection of resources is available to assist your planning and preparation on our website.
Emergencies and traumatic incidents at a service
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Are your services emergency contact details up to date?
The service provider contact person named on your service’s certificate of licence is the default emergency contact person for your service. This is the person we will contact in the event of an emergency.
It is important that their contact details are kept up to date at all times. Contact your local Ministry office if details have/will change, or if this person will be away for a period of time.
Local Ministry offices
We are currently reviewing our emergency response in the aftermath of the tragic events in Christchurch. A report detailing the findings from the review is due in July 2019.
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Measles outbreak
This is relevant to everyone, including staff and children.
New Zealand is still in the midst of a measles outbreak. Measles is a serious, highly infectious disease that is potentially life-threatening. It affects everyone: babies, children and adults.
Children with measles, or displaying symptoms of measles, must not attend early learning services.
Symptoms include a fever, a cough, red eyes and a runny nose, and sometimes small white spots on the back inner cheek of your mouth. A rash develops after about 3 days. Parents should contact their doctor for advice.
Further information can be found at:
Ministry of Health – Measles
The Immunisation Advisory Centre
He Pānui Kōhungahunga – March 2019 – Measles outbreak
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Teaching Council teams with Human Rights Commission to ‘Give nothing to racism’
From Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, in conjunction with the Human Rights Commission, is developing a new resource to support teachers to give nothing to racism.
The way to dismantle racism is to starve it, not feed it, and as teachers you are in a unique position to starve the spread of racism and intolerance as you help shape the hearts and minds of precious tamariki every day.
Find out more on our website.
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Out for feedback: He Māpuna te Tamaiti: Supporting Social and Emotional Competence in ECE
We are developing an early childhood resource on enhancing children’s social and emotional competence and supporting them to engage and learn. This resource is now in draft and we are seeking your feedback.
The resource includes an extensive range of strategies that kaiako can use. These include creating supportive learning environments, responding to barriers to learning and engagement and promoting rich opportunities to learn.
The draft resource and feedback survey are available on our website and consultations closes on 5 May 2019. The final resource will be available later in the year.
Draft document - He Māpuna te Tamaiti
Survey draft document - He Māpuna te Tamaiti
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Support for children’s behaviour that you find challenging
If you are struggling to meet the learning needs of a child or children in your early learning service, we can help. Early intervention support is available for children, their whānau and kaiako from birth until the child starts school. Support is available for a range of needs. This includes behaviour, hearing and vision, social or developmental needs, learning or physical disabilities and communication. If you need help you can contact us.
Learning Support services contact details
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New Zealand Sign Language Week 6-12 May
New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is used every day by thousands of New Zealanders. NZSL is a growing language of instruction for children and young people, not all of whom are deaf or hard of hearing.
To celebrate NZSL Week, early learning services can sign up for a free taster class from Deaf Aotearoa, supported by the Ministry of Education. Classes are limited, so register now.
For fun and accessible NZSL resources, or to book your free NZSL taster classes, go to the website below.
www.deaf.org.nz/nzslw
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The Isolation Index is changing
The Minister of Education has approved changes to the formula for calculating the Isolation Index. These changes will be implemented in 2020.
The current formula for calculating the Isolation Index uses 2001 Census data. The new formula will use data from the 2013 Census and recent roading information.
The Isolation Index is used to calculate the isolation component of equity funding. Currently, 544 services are eligible for this funding.
We are still finalising what these changes will mean for individual services and we will provide more information over the next few months. Most services won’t be affected. We will write directly to all affected services about how the change will impact them.
Read more about equity funding
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Financial reporting due 30 June 2019
Early learning services must submit audited financial statements if they have operated for a full financial year in 2018 and received Ministry funding over $80,000 (including GST).
Send these, along with a copy of the declaration form by 30 June 2019 to:
Resourcing Division, Ministry of Education, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140; or
email resourcing@education.govt.nz.
Financial declaration for early learning services
Declaration Form
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Reminder about the June 2019 Annual ECE Return (Census)
The annual ECE Return is due to be submitted to the Ministry by 12 July 2019. This year, the ECE Return week is 24 to 30 June 2019.
The annual ECE Return, also known as the ECE Census, collects information over a specified week. Information collected is children’s participation, teaching staff, languages used, wait times at services and teachers’ contact hours. This information is used by the Ministry and researchers to monitor and design early learning policies.
Read more on education.govt.nz.
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New qualification ELI
In June 2019, we are making changes to the qualification codes in all Student Management Systems (SMS) and ELI Web. These changes will be in place in advance of the Annual Early Childhood Education (ECE) Return.
The changes to the qualification codes apply to Playcentres, Home-based and Centre-based services.
Read more on ELI HomePage.
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Playgroup news from around the country
Please see the Regional News section for stories about playgroups in the following regions:
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Calling for Playgroup story ideas
Do you have a story that you would like to share with other playgroups? The Ministry welcomes contributions from the early learning sector for He Pānui Kōhungahunga – the Early Learning Bulletin.
To find out more about how to submit an article, contact us at earlylearning.bulletin@education.govt.nz.
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| Kāhui Ako | Communities of Learning |
Funding to support early learning services and ngā kōhanga reo participation in Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako
Early learning services and ngā kōhanga reo (services) representation in Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako help meet the needs of children by supporting positive education outcomes from an early age, laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning and strengthening learning opportunities for children. Funding is now available to support participation for services that are approved members of a Kāhui Ako.
Read more about the funding and how to apply on the Education website
Funding for early learning in Kāhui Ako
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Kāhui Ako news from around the country
Please see the Regional News section for stories about Kāhui Ako in the following regions:
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| Our Community: Stories and Successes |
Education Gazette - early learning stories
The Education Gazette Tukutuku Kōrero aims to inspire teaching and learning, and celebrating success and innovation. This month there are two new stories from early learning services:
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Contribute to He Pānui Kōhungahunga - The Early Learning Bulletin
The Ministry welcomes contributions from the Early Learning sector for He Pānui Kōhungahunga – the Early Learning Bulletin. To find out more about how to submit content, contact us at earlylearning.bulletin@education.govt.nz.
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Issue no. 47 | 23 April 2019
