Press releases and articles

A recommendation to explore flexibility for childcare centres when employing people without a teaching qualification could mean improved access to childcare for parents and children, says the Early Childhood Council.

What makes a leader truly effective in early childhood education? It’s not just about managing tasks or ticking boxes: it’s about how we connect. At its heart, relational leadership is about embracing the complexity of human connections. It’s not just a method or strategy; it’s a way of being. Leaders who adopt this approach recognise that every interaction, whether with a colleague, a parent, or a child within their learning community, has the potential to shape the culture of their setting. They understand that leadership is less about hierarchy and more about fostering an environment where every voice is valued.

Gardening is far more than simply placing a plant in the soil and watering it. American gardener, Ken Druse stated, “When gardeners garden, it’s not just the plants that grow, but the gardeners themselves” (garden quotes | Exline Iris Garden). This sentiment is particularly true when we provide tamariki with regular gardening experiences. Beyond understanding how plants grow or where food comes from, gardening fosters a wide range of learning and development, making it a powerful educational tool.

The Early Childhood Council has labelled the Ministry of Education’s approach in a legal action involving Country Kindy, a small rural Manawatu childcare centre, heavy-handed and aggressive, saying it points to fundamental problems in the Ministry’s culture, renewing concerns in the sector about the motivations of the current ECE regulator.

The Early Childhood Education regulatory sector review report has agreed with the Early Childhood Council’s view that the current system is not fit for purpose.

I am an avid nature lover. Growing up in Auckland I yearned for a life in the country. As an adult I love my rural home with veggie gardens and chickens. One thing which attracted me to Borman Village Kids was the part of our philosophy about sustainability (it was the part right at the bottom of our philosophy statement, a grand intention with no plan).