Federation S Main Focus for 2016/2017

EARLY EDUCATION FEDERATION

Barnardos NZ, Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, Christian Early Childhood Education Association of Aotearoa, Early Intervention Association of Aotearoa/NZ, Federation of Rudolf Steiner Waldorf Schools in NZ, Hospital Play Specialists Association of Aotearoa/NZ, Montessori Aotearoa NZ, National Association of ECE Directors in Universities, NZEI Te Riu Roa, NZ Home-base Early Childhood Education Association, NZ Kindergartens – Te Putahi Kura Puhou o Aotearoa, NZ Playcentre Federation, Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu/The Correspondence School,Te Rito Maioha Early ChildhoodNew Zealand, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, The Open Polytechnic, World Organisation for Early Childhood Education OMEP Aotearoa/NZ.

The symbol of the Early Education Federation is a woven mat. This represents the weaving together of diverse groups with their own unique philosophy and structure - united by similar aims, promoting quality Early Childhood Education and supporting families/whanau in Aotearoa New Zealand.

2016/2017

EARLY EDUCATION FEDERATION

Annual Report 2016/2017

Federation’s main focus for 2016/2017

Review of Constitution, and Membership Policy and developing a Code of Conduct

In discussions at Council meetings in 2016 members agreed that the Federation needed to clarify the process for becoming a member and define the responsbilities of membership. This was also seen as an opportunity to bring the Constitution and policies in line with the Federation’s new purpose and goals.

The Constitutional Objects were reviewed and changes were made to the Membership Clause. These changes were agreed at the Annual General Meeting in December. The Membership Policy was also amended to reflect the changes made to the Constitution.

A Code of Conduct was developed and agreed at the June 2017 Council meeting.

Federation’s Key ECE Policy Priorities

At the September 2016 Council meeting delegates began a process to develop a new set of Key ECE Policy Priorities, with the intention of distributing them throughout the sector and to politicians, in the lead up to the 2017 General Election. Although work was done on fine tuning these priorities throughout the year, a final agreement could not be reached on a Federation document.

Budget 2017

After the budget announcement in May 2017, NZ Kindergartens, Te Rito Maioha/ECNZ and NZEI-Te Riu Roa released a joint media statement calling for funding increases to the early childhood sector. At the Federation’s June Council meeting it was agreed that the Federation would release a statement supporting the NZ Kindergartens, Te Rito Maioha/ECNZ, NZEI-Te Riu Roa statement. Unfortunately no consensus could be reached on the wording of the statement. It was however, released as a joint statement from those members who did agree.

Forward planning

At the June 2017 meeting it was agreed that time would be set aside at the September meeting to identify key issues for the Federation to work on for the coming year.

Issues of particular interest to members 2016/2017

Te Whāriki update

A draft revised Te Whāriki document was released in November 2016. At the December Council meeting delegates shared their concerns about the process and timeframe for consultation. At this meeting, a letter to the Ministry of Education was drafted. The letter expressed Federation members’ concerns and requested that the consultation process be expanded and extended. Not all member organisations endorsed the letter but it was sent on behalf of those who did ensdorse it.

Communities of Learning

Delegates reported on the Ministry of Education’s progress on developing Communities of Learning within the education sector. There were ongoing concerns expressed by members about the lack of support for ECE enagement.

OECD International Early Learning Study

Delegates discussed their apprehension about the possible involvement of New Zealand in this study. The type of assessment tools to be used in the study were not seen to be appropriate or helpful for the early childhood sector, and the cost was seen as an issue, when funding to the sector is already a major concern.

Tangata whenua representation at ECAC

Te Wananga Aotearoa delegates reported that they are working on submitting proposals to the Ministry of Education for representation at meetings of the Ministry of Education Early Childhood Advisory Committee. The Federation agreed to support this.

Cohort Entry to School

Delegates discussed the potential impact on the early childhood sector of this amendment to the Education Act.

ECANZ proposal for postgraduate requirements for all teachers

Delegates raised concerns about the lack of an childhood voice in these discussions. Although there was support for the proposal, delegates could see that the impact on the early childhood sector needed to be part of the conversation.

Other issues discussed at Council meetings

Delegates also shared information and views about a number of other issues at Council meetings and via email throughout the year:

The new Food Act – impact on EC sector
ERO Strategic Intentions
MoE Funding Review
MoE ECE annual census data
NZEI’s Every Child is Worth it campaign
Government’s 2017 Budget
Changes to the structure and funding for Learning Support
Workshops for unpacking the updated Te Whāriki
Oranga Tamariki – re information sharing
The Productivity Commission’s investigation into how to measure and improve productivity in core public services

Membership

The following organisations were members of the Federation during this year:

Barnardos New Zealand
Bethlehem Tertiary Institute
Christian Early Childhood Education Association of Aotearoa
Early Intervention Association of Aotearoa NZ
Federation of Rudolf Steiner Waldorf Schools in NZ
Hospital Play Specialists Association of Aotearoa/NZ
Montessori Aotearoa NZ
National Association of ECE Directors in Universities
NZEI – Te Riu Roa
NZ Home-base Early Childhood Education Association
NZ Kindergartens – Te Putahi Kura Puhou o Aotearoa
NZ Playcentre Federation
Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu/The Correspondence School
Te Rito Maioha – Early Childhood New New Zealand
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
The Open Polytechnic NZ
World Organisation for Early Childhood Education OMEP Aotearoa/NZ

The Council

Council members

Council members were elected for the year at the Annual General Meeting on the 15th of December 2016. Delegates who attended meetings as representatives of the Federation member organisations during the year were:

Barnardos NZ- Penelope Janes
BTI- Thelma Chapman
CECEAA - Thelma Chapman, Josie Wall
EIAANZ - Susan Foster-Cohen
FRSWSNZ - Karen Affleck
HPSANZ - Marianne Kayes, Robyn Maria
MANZ- Cathy Wilson
NA of ECD - Sue Cherrington
NZEI/TRR - Charmaine Thomson, Virginia Oakley, Jo Young and Donna Eden
NZHECEA - Lisa Bentley
NZK - Jacinta Blank
NZPF - Susan Bailey
TAoTKP/TCS - Ros West, Annie Malir
TRM/ECNZ - Sophie Hamiltion
TWOA- Tracey Mansell, Cindy Wills
The Open PolytechnicNZ- Sonja Rosewarne
OMEP A/NZ - Juvena Jalal

Council Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson.

At the Annual General Meeting in December 2016,Jacinta Blank was elected as the Chairperson and Tracey Mansell was elected as the Deputy Chairperson for the 2017 year.

Council Meetings

Three meetings of the Council were held since the Annual General Meeting, one in December 2016, one in February 2017, and one in June 2017 to coincide with the Ministry of Education’s Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC) meetings.

Communications

The Secretary and/or Chairperson sent out regular memos and emails reporting on outcomes of meetings, notifying members of upcoming meetings and issues for discussionand consulting members on issues between meetings.

Members Updates containing a collation of recent announcements, media releases, upcoming events and links to relevant articles and research, were sent out to members on a regular basis throughout the year.

Early Education Federation Council Delegates/Deputies confirmed at the 2016 Annual General Meeting were as follows:

Barnardos NZ

Delegates: Lesley Brown

Penelope Janes

Bethlehem Tertiary Institute

Delegate:Thelma Chapman

Christian Early Childhood Education Association of Aotearoa

Delegate:Thelma Chapman

Deputy:Josie Wall

Early Intervention Association of Aotearoa NZ

Delegate:Susan Foster Cohen

Deputy:Trisha Benge

Federation of Rudolf Steiner Waldorf Schools in NZ

Delegate:Karen Affleck

Deputies:Kathy MacFarlane

Veronica Pitt

Hospital Play Specialists Association of Aotearoa/NZ

Delegate:Marianne Kayes

Deputy:Robyn Maria

Montessori Aotearoa NZ

Delegate:Cathy Wilson

National Association of ECE Directors in Universities

Delegates: Sue Cherrington

Carmen Dalli

NZ Educational Institute- Te Riu Roa

Delegates:Charmaine Thomson

Jo Young

NZ Home-based Childcare Association

Delegate: Lisa Bentley

Deputy:Evan Kydd

NZ Kindergartens Inc.

Delegates: Clare Wells

Jacinta Blank

NZ Playcentre Federation

Delegates:Susan Bailey

Alaine Tamati-Aubrey

Deputy:Alasdair Finnie

OMEP

Delegates: Diti Hill

Te Wananga o Aotearoa

Delegate:Tracey Mansell

Deputies:Carol Palmer

Cindy Wills

Tracy Rikihana

Patti Howarth

Gaylene Daniels

Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu/The Correspondence School,

Delegate:Annie Malir

Deputy:Ros West

Te Rito Maioha/Early Childhood NZ

Delegate:Sophie Hamilton

The Open Polytechnic

Delegates:Liz Everiss

Sonja Rosewarne