9. HEATHER ROY (Deputy Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Does the Minister consider that the Free ECE Information line has been successful in informing parents about the 20 hours free scheme, and how many calls have been taken to date?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Associate Minister of Education) Link to this
Yes, the Free ECE Information line—0800 204 433—has played a valuable role in informing parents about the 20 hours free scheme. The information line has received 3,753 calls as at 29 April.
How can the Minister claim that the information line has been successful when the operators do not know which centres are opting into the scheme and which centres are not, and why are operators telling parents to contact non – teacher – led centres, such as playcentres, when they are clearly ineligible to participate?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I am advised that in general the information line works effectively and has good systems in place. But we take any concerns about poor service very, very seriously. Minister Maharey is looking into that matter right now.
Hon Marian HobbsApart from the helpline, what else is being done to make parents aware of 20 hours’ free early childhood education?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
Early childhood education centres themselves have an important role in getting information out to parents. They have been enthusiastic about doing that.
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
The one in Gisborne. Centres have already ordered over 80,000 booklets for parents’ information and over 200,000 attestation forms for parents to fill in to claim their 20 free hours.
Metiria TureiHow does the Minister justify giving 20 free hours to private centres, which make a profit, but excluding playcentres from the 20 free hours programme when it would cost the Government only about $50 per term, per family, and some administrative support, to give them that same kind of programme and when playcentres have come out on top in the Competent Children study for long-term quality outcomes; and is the Minister not concerned that their exclusion from this policy could threaten their role in supporting New Zealand parents engaging in their children’s early childhood education?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
There are different aspects in relation to who gets funded, and where, and when. The bottom line is that 92,000 children aged 3 and 4 will be eligible for this policy.
What has been the cost to date of setting up and running the freephone information line, and does the Minister consider this to be value for taxpayer money when many parents cannot find a centre at which to enrol their 3 and 4-year-olds, making them truly ineligible?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
Approximately $35,000 has been budgeted for running the information line. This is in line with other services of this type and, given the number of calls to date, well worth the cost.
Paula BennettHow does the Minister respond to parents who were promised by this Government that they would get 20 hours free and are now facing the reality that it is simply not going to be available and that they were lied to?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
Ninety-two thousand 3 and 4-year-olds will benefit from this—and this Government responds positively, always, to parents. We have done so consistently, and that is why they like this Government.
Why is it that on the website 20hoursfree.blogspot.com, the organisers of a petition to force Labour to keep its election promise on this issue have more information available on which centres are participating than the ministry’s own information line?
I seek leave to table an analysis by Michelle Rush Consulting Ltd that describes the impacts of playcentres’ exclusion from the 20 free hours’ early childhood education policy.
I seek leave to table a headline from today’s Christchurch Press that states: “Learning centres baulk at free hours”.
Madam SPEAKER