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Teacher-led services, other than Free Kindergartens, may feel caught between a rock and a hard place in wanting to but not being able to afford to give staff a pay rise, and not having certainty to do so due to the possibility that other costs might continue to rise and funding may be decreased as a result of the review of government funding of ECE signalled by the Minister for Education. 

ECE government funding policy has previously been set so early childcare centres could afford to match, if they wished, the pay levels of kindergarten.  Today funding policy is set so government absorbs wage increase costs only for kindergartens. This leaves other teacher-led services in a quandary as to how they can meet the cost of giving valued and deserving staff a pay increase and allow for pay increases according to a staff member's years of recognised service.  

A new kindergarten teachers, head teachers and senior teachers' Collective Agreement (KTCA, 2011 - 2013) was last month (Dec 2011) signed off by NZEI Te Riu Ruo and the Ministry of Education.  A variation to the 2009 - 2011 Agreement had earlier given teachers an increase of 2.75% with effect from 1 December 2010.  The increase was less than the 4% previously given from 1 July 2009.  The new 2011-2013 Agreement contains the same pay rates as at 1 December 2010 and will be disappointing to kindergarten teachers hoping a new Agreement would bring a pay increase with it.  Kindergarten teacher pay scales are based on length of recognised service and so for teachers not at the top of their pay scale a pay increase in the new year is automatic.      

For kindergarten teachers the good news is that under the new KTCA (2011 - 2013) a continuation of pay parity with primary and secondary school teachers has been assured. The retirement savings scheme remains in place and at the same level of government contribution.  Very few conditions have changed. The main change is a small increase to the maximum allowable number of child contact hours in a week, starting from Term 2 this year.  Currently in kindergartens that operate sessionally but hold an all-day licence the maximum child contact hours for full-time employees is 26 hours per week and this will increase to 27.5 hours per week in Term 2, 2012, and up to 28 hours from the start of 2013.  

READ MORE below about the decisions made by some early childhood employers and why.  

Add your comments and share what pay decisions have been made at your early childhood service.  

Also you may wish to make some comments about the new Kindergarten Teachers Collective Agreement.  

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