http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.ecc.org.nz en-us Fri, 08 May 2026 00:15:49 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/163520/five-ways-to-keep-your-centre-healthier-this-winter/ It’s every centre manager’s nightmare: another outbreak of illness.Sickness in early childhood education settings is incredibly common and the reasons are obvious: Young children have developing immune systems, and they spend long hours together in enclosed spaces. Add nappy changing, shared toys, hands touching faces, mouths and everything else, and you have the perfect breeding ground for bugs to spread quickly.But the impact goes beyond the unwell child. When children are sick, parents st... Tue, 05 May 2026 09:00:00 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post163520 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/163718/the-power-of-supportive-storytelling-in-ece/ Tamariki nod, recalling the physical effort, the slips, and the eventual triumph of making it across. What once felt impossible slowly became manageable, not because the equipment had changed, but because the tamariki had grown in their own confidence and capability.In early childhood settings, children face moments that feel just as significant, whether tackling a tricky puzzle or finding the courage to contribute in a group. Through the intentional support of a trusted kaiako, tamariki le... Tue, 05 May 2026 09:00:00 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post163718 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/163225/why-eces-need-to-take-cyber-risks-seriously/ Digital tools now play a crucial role in the day to day running of early childhood centres. Enrolment systems, payroll, attendance tracking, parent communication apps, and stored records all rely on technology to keep things moving. But as this reliance grows, so does the exposure to cyber risk. Cybercriminals don’t target only large organisations, they look for vulnerabilities, and any ECE centre with internet connected devices can be affected. A c... Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:49:59 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post163225 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/163213/learning-through-visual-art-sketching-chicks/ Take a blank sheet of paper and try drawing something. For many adults, it’s unexpectedly nerve-wracking. What do you draw? Where do you start? Overthinking quickly takes over. A blank page offers the opportunity of decision making; it is possibility waiting for direction. Visual arts give children a safe place to practice that cho... Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:05:49 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post163213 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/161170/5-percent-to-secure-our-childrens-future/ Simon Laube, ECC CEO, says Government funding for the sector has not been keeping up with inflation. Since 2019, this has equated to a drop in funding by more than 11 percent in real terms. Growing centre budget shortfalls are putting the futures of our youngest tamariki severely at risk. “Quality early childhood education is one of the best things we can give our young people. It sets them up for success – not just as they embark on their education journeys, but for the rest of their l... Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post161170 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/160786/supporting-blind-low-vision-children-in-ece/ In New Zealand there are many blind low vision children who experience difficulty transitioning into and out of ECEs. There is also lack of training or professional development for teachers in relation to managing such children. This leads to a poor start to their education and often flows through to primary school and beyond.... Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +1300 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post160786 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/161171/compliance-is-not-the-enemy-confusion-is/ Early childhood education has a long memory. Leaders remember the fear years, the uncertain years, the “are we doing this right?” years. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of what the sector calls “compliance pressure” has never actually been about compliance – it has been about confusion.As new regulatory changes take effect from April 20, 2026, many services are feeling a familiar tension. Not resistance, not rejection, something else – recognition. We have been here before... Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +1300 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post161171 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/158570/noticing-children-who-may-need-extra-support-in-ece-without-labels-or-guesswork/ In early learning settings, difference is normal. Some children may benefit from extra support for attention, communication, sensory needs, or behaviour. Often the hardest part is knowing what to notice, how to start a respectful kōrero with whānau, and how to record observations in ways that protect privacy and reduce bias. This article provides light, repeatable ideas for ECE practice that sit comfortably within Te Whāriki, support ERO’s improvement focus, and puts whānau partnership at ... Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +1300 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post158570 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/156595/dance-more-than-just-music-and-movement/ Often in early learning settings dance comes as an add-on to music, as suggested by the phrase ‘Music and Movement’, but there is more to dance than this. This article considers the benefits of dance, the teacher’s role and links to Te Whāriki with the aim to widen teachers’ perceptions of dance and its place in early childhood education.... Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:30:00 +1300 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post156595 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/156602/the-hidden-cost-of-outdated-fee-schedules/ In today’s economic climate, every dollar counts for families and services alike. With rent, insurance, and wage costs rising faster than government contributions, private revenue from fees has never been more essential. Yet many centres still rely on outdated fee structures that no longer reflect the true cost of delivering quality education and care. The result? Hidden financial pressures, reduced sustainability, and missed opportunities to build trust with families.If your service has no fe... Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:19:11 +1300 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post156602