10. PAULA BENNETT (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
How is the policy of 20 free hours of early childhood education consistent with the Government’s intention to increase the level of quality in early childhood education?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
The 20 free hours policy is designed to do two things: boost participation in early childhood education for 3 to 4-year-olds, and lower costs to parents. The policy is part of the Government’s 10-year early childhood quality education strategy, which aims to improve quality, boost participation, and promote collaboration. Other initiatives that are relevant include having registered and qualified teachers; curriculum materials innovation and professional development; a better regulation system; higher funding; and better adult-child ratios.
How does that fit with the Ministry of Education’s recommendation to centres that in order to make the 20 free hours policy work, they reduce quality, reduce staffing, or charge more for children aged zero to 2 years?
Dianne YatesWhat reports has the Minister seen about alternative policies that are consistent with raising the quality?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I am speaking to a lot of early childhood groups at the moment, and I am aware that they are very aware that the National Party is now supporting the 20 hours’ free policy. National’s leader, John Key, has stated: “We want these young kids to be able to have 20 hours free.” However, early childhood groups are confused by the fact that on National’s website it still says National will scrap 20 hours’ free early childhood education, and those groups are wondering when the National Party will come clean and say what its actual policy is.
In light of the Minister speaking to so many centres, what is his response to the newsletter of the Building Blocks Childcare and Preschool, which recently stated: “The centre has decided that we will not be offering the 20 hours free, as we want to provide you and your child the same high-quality care without any compromise.”?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I have not read the particular information that the member has read out, but I will take her word that that is actually what has been said by the Building Blocks Childcare and Preschool. But I would urge that centre to take advantage of the workshops that are being run by the Ministry of Education, because in my experience many people who are looking through their budgets at this time change their mind when they have had the opportunity to work the issue through with the ministry.
How does the 20 free hours policy increase the level of quality of early childhood education, when, for example, Mark Finlay, the managing director of Lollipops Educare, said that if he signed up to the policy: “We would have to cut back on costs, teachers, nappies, and food, etc.”; and how does cutting back on teachers increase the quality of early childhood education?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
As I am sure the member knows, the funding rates were based on information provided by the early childhood sector through the 2006 operating costs survey. Centres that qualify for the funding, of course, qualify because they employ registered teachers—the higher the number, the more money they get. The rates are therefore tailored to reflect the costs of early childhood centres, particularly in the area of their two major cost drivers, which are employing qualified teachers and the length of the session they provide. I will be making it clear, of course, to centres around the country that the next operating costs survey will be completed in 2008. It will capture any of the anomalies that might arise in their centres, and we will be able to deal with those going forward.