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If early childhood services learnt one thing when the Government reduced funding to services with more than 80% qualified teachers and changed eligibility criteria for access to support for provisionally registered teachers amongst other things, it was that a government is free to make changes to funding as it pleases according to its priorities or goals.    

Read this comment received by ChildForum for example:

A few people I know that were contemplating a preschool business have now changed their minds after seeing the Herald article (click here to read the NZ Hearld article). The article certainly told it as it was!  We do not really know what the funding will look like post government ECE Taskforce recommendations, as I understand it.  It’s all a big and worrying mystery for our futures. As well as a possibility of having a funding cut to some services, there may also be a good positive funding increase to others? I am hoping that by the great service we offer that we may be in that latter bracket!!  (An early childhood education and care centre in Canterbury)

What ever type of early childhood service you have it pays to be prepared for changes in funding (and for changes in demand by families as demand is influenced by government policies).     

These are times when it pays to be strategic!

Below are four top tips for what your early childhood service could be doing now or be planning toward doing.  

1. Building Educational Capacity in the Community as an ECE Service

A large proportion of children leave school unable to read or write at a good level. These children grow up to be parents, who in turn find it difficult to provide a home-learning environment that fosters early literacy. Without parents on board, early childhood services can make only a tiny difference to children’s early literacy development.

Perhaps your service could meet this need in the community?  Think of ways you could do this.

Here’s one idea:  The "Early Reading Together” Kit of Workshop Resources for ECE educators and families.  Note that the “Reading Together” programme at primary level has received strong endorsement from government and is being implemented and scaled up by the Ministry of Education across decile 1-3 schools, beginning this term (read more about reading workshop resources by clicking here).

This page is open to ECE Centre and Home-based ECE Service, Tertiary Education, Department and Institution members.   

If you currently hold an Individual membership but would like access to this page and other management materials and support please talk with your employer or organisation about joining as a group member.

To read the full article, other information and comments on this page make sure you have logged-in as a member with your organisation's username and password.  

To take out a new membership, renew your membership, or transfer your Individual Membership to an ECE Service or Institutional membership just click here