http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.ecc.org.nz en-us Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:03:14 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/167069/australian-childcare-alliance-queensland-conference-report-back/ The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) Queensland Conference was just held in Brisbane between 26 June and 28 June. It attracted 2,000 delegates and had a massive trade exhibition. I attended alongside two ECC members.My take from the trip is that Queensland has huge advantages over NZ. For one thing, they do not have issues with their regulator systematically shutting down centres. If anything, they have the opposite problem and perhaps there are operators that should be shut down as low quali... Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:19:13 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post167069 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/166725/the-child-who-wanted-to-reach-the-sun/ If you have ever had a conversation with a child before, you would know that their imagination and creativity are unmatched. As children are still learning the rules of the world around them, they often come to conclusions that an adult mind can’t fathom. Their unique logic and limited information have often made me smile during my years working with these tiny problem solvers.When I was working in the toddler room, I once noticed a few children playing in the block corner. One child in partic... Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:32:03 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post166725 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/166671/work-to-residence-changes-a-significant-win-for-ece-teachers-and-providers/ The Early Childhood Council says allowing ECE teachers to qualify for residency at their original Median Wage level will help reduce the chance of a future teacher supply crisis for ECE providers, and give overseas teachers already working in New Zealand a valuable reward. After COVID-19, many ECE centres recruited teachers from overseas because there weren’t enough domestic workers available. Now, many of those immigrants have been in New Zealand long enough to start to become eligible t... Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:08:54 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post166671 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/166566/choosing-culturally-responsive-resources-for-your-early-learning-services/ The resources children encounter in an early learning environment help shape what they understand about themselves and the world around them. Books, images, language materials and digital content can signal whose cultures, families and experiences are recognised and valued.For educators, choosing culturally responsive resources is not simply about adding more variety to the shelf. The strongest resources connect with the children and whānau in a service, support meaningful teaching practice, an... Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:04:05 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post166566 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/166563/what-happens-when-food-reaches-the-table/ There is a point in every early learning setting where everything we say we value about food becomes visible.It does not sit in the menu, a policy, or a training session. It reveals itself at the table, when the food is placed down and children begin to engage. If you watch closely, this moment tells you almost everything about how the mealtime is working.The children are seated, and the rhythm of the routine, often held as a ritual, is complete. A sharing platter is placed within reach. Some ch... Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:29:37 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post166563 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/165560/budget-2026-government-makes-good-on-education-promises-with-new-investment-into-ece/ The Early Childhood Council (ECC) has welcomed the Government’s 1.5 percent cost adjustment for early childhood education in Budget 2026 – but has warned tough times remain ahead for the ECE sector.“The ECC campaigned hard on a 5 percent increase in funding for ECE in this year’s Budget. While it’s not near the amount required to keep the sector sustainable, we welcome this year’s cost adjustment,” says ECC CEO, Simon Laube.“Government funding has not kept pace with inflation, dr... Thu, 28 May 2026 14:31:09 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post165560 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/165415/how-work-based-learning-can-support-early-learning-services/ Amid the plate-spinning of running an early learning service, workplace training can be the first thing to drop off the list. For centre owners and managers balancing staffing, compliance, whānau communication and the daily needs of tamariki, professional development needs to be practical.Work-based learning, also known as on-the-job training, can offer a practical option. It allows people to build skills while continuing in their usual role, with learning connected to the tasks and responsibil... Tue, 26 May 2026 09:04:35 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post165415 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/165413/we-can-keep-safe-a-proven-personal-safety-programme-for-early-learning/ Early learning services play a vital role in supporting the health, wellbeing, and safety of young children during their most formative years. Tamariki aged 3–5 are naturally trusting and dependent on adults to keep them safe. While this is developmentally appropriate, it can also increase vulnerability. Many parents and kaiako want to teach children personal safety skills but feel unsure how to do this in an age-appropriate, calm, and empowering way.We Can Keep Safe was developed to meet this... Tue, 26 May 2026 07:57:05 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post165413 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/post/165392/where-to-find-nz-video-stories-and-songs-to-engage-children/ A new resource for early childhood teachers, caregivers and whānau is providing a safe space online for pre-schoolers to engage with a range of stories and songs made in Aotearoa. KIDOGO Junior is the creation of NZ On Air, who wanted to bring tamariki shows into one easy-to-discover place on YouTube.On KIDOGO Junior you can find great shows such as Toi Time, Kiri and Lou, Bigsies and Littles and Buzz’s Epic Little Missions, along with songs to get tamariki learning and moving from many well-... Mon, 25 May 2026 15:17:04 +1200 http://www.ecc.org.nz/blog/#post165392 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