A fab few days was provided at the NZ Early Childhood Research Conference last Thursday to Saturday in Wellington.  The venue was great, the company was great, and we all enjoyed lots of stimulating discussions, presentations and research.  Thank you to participants for a great time and to everyone who contributed. 

Notes and power-point slides from many of the presentations will be made available in the coming weeks for ChildForum members on our website.  Some will also likely be included in full paper form in the next issue of the NZ Research in Early Childhood Education Journal.  If you have recently completed a research study, manuscripts are currently being considered for the NZRECE Journal (click here for details on how to prepare and submit a manuscript for journal publication).

This week's newsletter contains a mix of news and information articles, along with recently asked questions from ChildForum members.  

In This Week's "Being Informed" Newsletter: 

1. Expanding ECE Without Attention to Quality - The Latest OECD report
2. About Waitangi Day in NZ (Feb 6th)
3. Can Your Help:  Children's Reading Comprehension Research
4. Are Learning Stories Working?
5. Pay Rises in Early Childhood Teaching
6. Kiwifruit a Danger to Some Children
7. Funding Contracts/Tenders

1. OECD on Why and How Policy Can Encourage Quality in ECE 

Governments should set national standards for quality in early childhood education (ECE) according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The OECD says in its latest report that early childhood education can bring a range of benefits, but in order to bring those benefits it needs to be of high quality.

''Expanding access to services without attention to quality will not deliver good outcomes for children or the long-term productivity benefits for society,'' OECD Director for Education Barbara Ischinger says.

* READ MORE:   OECD Recommendations 

2.  About Waitangi Day Celebrations in NZ and Marking this Occasion with Children

Check out a helpful article about Waitangi Day with information for sharing with children and ideas for marking this important day in New Zealand's history with them.

* READ MORE:  Marking Waitangi Day

3.  Can You Help?  Looking for Research and Ideas for Researching Children's Reading Comprehension 

Can you help?  ChildForum member Miriam Anderson is studying 4 year old children's development of comprehension skills in reading and would like to know of any research you may have come across on this topic, and any strategies or ideas you have found to have worked for finding out what children understand from reading and what is read to them.

* READ MORE: Children's Reading Comprehension

4. Are Learning Stories Working?

There has been some really interesting discussion posted on the ChildForum website as to whether the Learning Story approach to assessment of children's learning is working - what works well and doesn't work well.  Read what others have said and add to this. 

* READ MORE AND ADD TO THE DISCUSSION: Are Learning Stories Working?

5.  Wage Rises in Early Childhood Teaching

Some early childhood employers are giving staff a pay increase this year while others are not.  Read more about this and say what's happening in your service if you are an employer or are employed in ECE.

* READ MORE:  Pay Increases, Expectations, and ECE Service Budgets

6.  Kiwifruit a Danger For Some Children

Common allergies in children include gluten, egg and nuts.  And reported by the media this week, kiwifruit may also be a danger to some children.

While the most severe allergic reactions can have major implications such as anaphylactic shock, even mild allergies can cause problems. Symptoms can include itching, hives, vomiting and diarrhoea and food allergies can also exacerbate other problems such as eczema and asthma. Food intolerance, while less severe than an allergy, can also cause problems such as nausea and stomach aches. While catering for children with allergies might mean a little extra work there are simple practical things that you can do to make sure their experience is a good one.

* READ MORE:  Food Allergy Management and Meeting Children's Needs

7.  Funding Contracts & Tenders

Consultant/Project Manager for Ministry of Education (Christchurch)

The project manager will work across the wider Christchurch area ensuring the Ministry maintains progress in achieving the vision and goals of the Ministry's Christchurch Earthquake Recovery ECE Participation Project. The project manager will monitor activity and achievement, and will ensure the Ministry is identifying and managing risks. The position will involve building effective relationships and linkages between various Government and non-government organisations, the ECE sector, parents, whānau and the wider community, including local iwi, with the goal of sustaining and improving participation in quality ECE following the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes.  Fees and expenses to be negotiated.  The closing date for responses is 24 February 2012. For clarification and an RFP the Ministry’s contact person is Jenny Keetley, Senior Adviser Participation, Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Home-based ECE Providers Rotorua, Central North Island Region

The funding available for delivery of each model is based on a minimum of 40 children participating in home-based ECE and will be to a maximum of $60,000 per year (excl GST) over the two year term of the contract.  The deadline for proposals is 8th of February 2012. The Ministry's contact person for further information is Jon Dimock, Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Getting More Māori and Pasifika children and those from low socio economic status communities into ECE in Turangi

Providers will work directly with priority families/whānau who have three to four year olds not participating in ECE and support these families to improve the early learning outcomes of their children; through intensive in-home support, supporting regular sustained participation in a quality ECE service and ensure children effectively transition to school/kura. The indicative cost per child is based on a maximum of $4,000 (GST exclusive). Therefore a case load of 20 children in Turangi would have a maximum of $80,000 (GST exclusive) per annum.  The deadline for responses is 8 February 2012.  For clarification and further information the Ministry's contact person is Jon Dimock, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Grants for new, expanded or innovative ECE services established within the Central North Island area

The purpose of Targeted Assistance Participation funding is to create new child places in target areas where the largest numbers of children are not participating in early childhood education (ECE).  The key objective of TAP 3 funding is to provide grants that will support a wide range of innovative, flexible solutions that create, or increase the availability of new, suitable licensed or certificated child places in target areas within the Central North Region. Tap 3 grants will cover all direct costs up to $100,000 (GST exclusive) associated with reasonable and evidence based proposals that:

• Support the establishment of a new licensed ECE service or certificated playgroup
• Support the expansion of an existing licensed ECE service or certificated playgroup to increase the number of child places
• Provide innovations in service delivery that increase the supply of new child places.

Proposals close 8th February 2012.  All enquiries to Jon Dimock, Ministry of Education, Rotorua Office, PO Box 1749, Rotorua 3040. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it