Pre school teacher honoured

8 May 2012

A Kerikeri kindy teacher was one of just 12 educators around the country recognised for excellence at Parliament last week.

 

Cheryl Kingi, head teacher at Kerikeri Kindergarten, was the only Northlander to receive a NEiTA Foundation regional award for excellence in teaching in a ceremony in Parliament's Grand Hall on Thursday. Read the full story in the Northern Advocate.

 

New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK) congratulates recipients of National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards

4 May 2012

Teachers were honoured yesterday at the National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards ceremony in Wellington.

 

Cheryl Kingi, Head Teacher at Kerikeri Kindergarten in Northland (Northland Kindergarten Association) and Carla van Beek, Teacher at Frimley Park Kindergarten in Hastings (Heretaunga Kindergarten Association), were both recognised for excellence in teaching. The two teachers’ dedication, creativity and connection to children, families and their community are evident. NZK congratulates them both on this well-deserved tribute.

 

The awards call attention to the important contribution teachers make to the lives of children and young adults. Employing 100% qualified teachers is a hallmark of kindergarten and fundamental to the kindergarten philosophy. Qualified teachers are skilled in supporting children to build their capability as problem solvers, leaders and innovators, to broaden their understanding of the natural world, and to enjoy exploring responsibility and independence.

 

NZK congratulates all of the National Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Award recipients.

 

The Green Paper for Vulnerable Children – What’s next?

April 2012

New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK) made a submission on the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children along with 9,000 other individuals, groups and organisations. Like many, we are keen to learn about the next steps. What will the government include in a 10 year action plan? Will the government expand resources to children and families? How will early childhood education feature in the plan?

 

Read Clare's blog here.

 

Through Children's Eyes

  24 - 28 April 2012

 

THROUGH CHILDREN'S EYES: AN EXHIBITION BY THE CHILDREN OF MIRAMAR NORTH KINDERGARTEN

 

OPENING: 5.30 - 7.30pm Tuesday 24 April.
OPEN: Closed Wednesday (Anzac Day) Thursday - Friday 2.00 - 6.00pm and Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm.

 

The world through children's eyes is completely different to how adults see it. Art is a powerful way for them to communicate what they see and what is important to them. They are not restricted or limited by adult concepts and ideas.

 

Find out more in Scoop Independent News

 

New city kindy to cater for demand

21 March 2012

Timaru is to get another early childhood education centre.

 

A site at the former Timaru Christian School, in North St, is to be redeveloped, with its opening scheduled for early 2013.  Read the full story in the Timaru Herald.

 

Government Efforts to Increase ECE Participation Examined

15 April 2012

 

On Sunday 15 April, the Radio NZ Insight programme featured an examination of government initiatives to increase participation in early childhood education. The informative programme focuses primarily on services and families in South Auckland and includes comments from NZK Chief Executive Clare Wells. You can listen to the programme here.

 

Tall tale to raise funds for kindergarten

11 April 2012

Tahunanui Kindergarten head teacher Linda Hansen says it is the eighth year Cushion Theatre Productions has come over the hill to perform and help raise money for the kindergarten. Read the full story in the Nelson Mail.

 

Garden helps children grow

10 April 2012

The children at Frankleigh Park Kindergarten have a new landscaped garden to play in. Read about it in the Taranaki Daily News.

 

Kindergarten taking shape

5 April 2012

The Maniototo building was moved on to its Ranfurly site, in the grounds of the Maniototo Area School, last week, and the kindergarten should open on Monday, May 14. Find our more in the Otago Daily Times.

 

Fun learning about our environment

3 April 2012

Very young Northlanders had a ball getting down and dirty at a "see, feel and touch" expo showing them ways of loving the world they live in - officially, "introducing them to sustainable living practices".

The hugely successful half-day event was held to launch and showcase the Northland pilot of the national Enviroschools Early Years programme which aims to give very young children a sense of connection with the environment and the community.

The pilot is being run at the Comrie Park kindergarten at Matarau, near Whangarei, where the expo was held for all the pupils and their families. Read the full story in The Northern Advocate.

 

ECE fears more funding cuts

26 March 2012

Early childhood educations services are concerned that the 24 May Government budget could see funding to services reduced. Listen to the the Radio NZ interview here.

Enviroschools’ preschoolers project unveiled

21 March 2012

An expo showcasing a new environmental education pilot programme targeting Northland pre-schoolers is being hailed a success by organisers.

The Northland Regional Council is working with Matarau’s (Whangarei-based) Comrie Park Kindergarten in a 12-month trial of the ‘Enviroschools in the Early Years’ programme. Read the full story in Scoop Independent News.

 

Kindy rewarded for healthy habits

20 March 2012

The efforts of Martinborough Kindergarten to educate children about healthy lifestyles over the past year have been recognised with a Pa-Harakeke Healthy Heart Award. Read all about it in the Wairarapa Times-Age

Outdoor fun at Wadestown kindy

20 March 2012

An unused gorse and scrub covered slope is getting a makeover at Wadestown Kindergarten so the children at the kindergarten will have an new outdoor excursion space.Read the full story in the Dominion Post.

 

Kindergarten Long Lunch 2012Long Lunch

4 March 2012

Thank you for joining us at Long Lunch events across New Zealand to celebrate children, kindergarten and communities...

 

Thousands of children, parents, friends, staff and whānau came together to share lunch and celebrate children, our communities, and raise awareness of the benefits of high-quality early childhood education.

 

From train rides in Tauranga to a bouncy house in Northern Auckland, children, parents, whānau and friends enjoyed a fun day out.

 

View photographs from the fabulous events here.

 

Early education's critical path

14 February 2012

We are at a critical crossroad for early childhood education in New Zealand and there is no doubt the decisions we make today will have an impact on generations to come” writes NZK Chief Executive Clare Wells in her opinion piece for the Dominion Post. Read it here.

 

Taking action to raise quality in early childhood education

10 February 2012

 

New Zealand Kindergartens welcomes the announcement by Education Minister Hekia Parata of the establishment of two working groups to improve quality early childhood education for young children.

 

NZ Kindergartens Chief Executive, Clare Wells,  has been selected to be on one of the working groups.

 

Find out more in Scoop Independent News.

 

Kindergartens encourage male input

8 February 2012

Nelson Tasman Kindergartens are serious about attracting more men to early childhood education, following recent media reports identifying a lack of men in this area.

 

Nelson Tasman Kindergartens CEO Wendy Logan says it is a serious issue, especially as research shows that children learn the most from good role models.

 

Read the full story in Scoop Independent News.

 

Longer sessions for kindy kids

6 February 2012

All Ashburton kindergartens can now offer children up to six hours of fun and learning per day.

The district's five kindergartens have all now moved from traditional sessional days to all-day licences, meaning children can attend kindergarten for up to six hours per day, up from the traditional four-hour and two-hour sessions. Find out more in the Ashburton  Guardian.

 

NZ Kindergarten Response to Treasury Briefing Recommendations for Early Childhood Education

3 February 2012

 

New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK) warns that targeting early childhood education (ECE) funding in place of supporting universal access could mean many children and families fall through the cracks.

 

“The benefits of high quality ECE extend all the way up the income ladder and for all socio-economic groups. Purely targeting funding to early childhood education services will have limited success reaching target populations and is administratively expensive,” said Clare Wells, NZK Chief Executive.

 

Read the full press release here.

 

Kindergarten forced to operate from tent

2 February 2012

Children and teachers have been forced from their leaky kindergarten building and into a marquee on a neighbouring Bay of Plenty farm in what is believed to be a New Zealand first.

 

Find out how they are managing in the New Zealand Herald.

 

Males missing in preschools

2 February 2012

Early childhood teaching is slowly building momentum as a worthwhile profession for men.

Wanganui relieving kindergarten teacher Geoff Fugle recently graduated from the three-year early childhood degree course at Auckland University.

He described becoming a kindergarten teacher as the best thing he had ever done. Read the full story in the Wanganui Chronicle.

Kindergarten expected to be open for term two

26 January 2012

Fundraising for the kindergarten began more than two years ago.

"It's very exciting to be at this stage, with the opening not far off," Central Otago Kindergarten Association president Gigi Hollyer, of Queenstown, said this week Read more in the Otago Daily Times.

 

Blokes-in-kindy challenge

24 January 2012

Marlborough's only male kindergarten teacher is encouraging other men to "throw the stigma out the window" and join the profession.

Michael Clark, the head teacher at Springlands Kindergarten, said he wanted men to forget about what people might think about them being in early childhood education. Read more in the Marlborough Express.

 

Y-men to the rescue

Superheroes sorting out kindy problem

20 January 2012

While most young men would run a mile from early starts and crying kids, a group of self-styled superheroes from Wainuiomata enjoy being in the minority.

Known as the Y-men, the group of eight from Lower Hutt are the first graduates of a pilot programme, funded by the Government, to encourage more male kindergarten teachers. Read all about the pilot programme in the Dominion Post.

 

Children at the heart of policy


ChildEnsuring the needs and aspirations of all children and their families are at the centre of government policy development is a key theme in the New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK) response to the Early Childhood Education Taskforce report.

Read the full NZK press release here.

NZK's response to the Early Childhood Taskforce Report.

 

Kindergarten kids top of their crop

14 December 2011

They're a green-fingered bunch at Gonville Kindergarten, and to prove how good they are in the garden, they entered their vegetable plots in the River City Garden Awards. Find out about the award they received in the Wanganui Chronicle.

In with the new for kindy kids

13 December 2011

Port Chalmers Kindergarten pupils went from old school to new school yesterday. The township's new kindergarten officially welcomed its young charges for the first time.

 

"We're absolutely stoked. It's like a humungous early Christmas present," head teacher Julie Peters said. Find out more in the Otago Daily Times.

 

Kindy celebrates its new name in song

13 December 2011

A kindergarten has changed its name to better reflect its surroundings and community.

 

Riverside Kindergarten officially changed its name to Parihaka with a small ceremony on Friday. Read all about it in the Whangarei Leader.

 

Santa's little helpers help

12 December 2011

Irongate Kindergarten children had a special treat recently at Stock Road Christmas Trees when they went there to pick their tree for the festive season. Read more in the Hawkes Bay Times.

Kindy vegetable garden is a winner

8 December 2011

Children willingly eating spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, humus and vegetable soup have won an award for a Feilding kindergarten.

Manchester Kindergarten won a gold Healthy Heart award from the Heart Foundation this month, in recognition of the efforts it has made to promote healthy lifestyles for the children and their families. Read the story in the Manawatu Standard.

 

Read also Kindy on right health track  in the Fielding Herald.

 

Read the Ruahine Kindergarten Press Release - Manchester Kindergarten Wins top Heart Foundation Award  in  Scoop Independent News.

 

Hutt supermarket builds new $1m kindy

6 December 2011

Silverstream Kindergarten children have enjoyed a preview of their new premises built by New World Silverstream in exchange for their old 1940s building. Read the story and take a look at the new kindergarten in the Dominion Post.

 

UCOL Carpentry students Adopt a Kindy

5 December 2011

The UCOL Wairarapa Certificate in Carpentry course is offering its skills to the kindergartens of Wairarapa.

 

The unusual offer also gives UCOL Wairarapa Carpentry students yet another chance to build a real-life community project.

 

Find out more about 'Adopt a Kindy' in UCOL News.


Te Mata's sleeping giant comes to life

28 November 2011

For years teachers at Te Mata Kindergarten, in Havelock North, have held their young audience spellbound as they told the story of the sleeping giant.Read all about the sleeping giant in Hawkes Bay Today.

Love is sharing Play-Doh

26 November 2011

When Sammy Jaques got married, she had to think long and hard about who she wanted to share her Play-Doh with. Find out what happened in the Timaru Herald.

 

Ruahine Kindergarten Association 1st to head into the cloud

25 November 2011

Ruahine Kindergarten Association has become the first early childhood education provider to use the Ministry of Education’s cloud based online e-portfolio site.

‘My Portfolio’, is an online personal learning environment. Currently it is available free to all New Zealand schools, which use it primarily for their pupils to document milestones and achievements. Read the full story in Scoop Independent News.


UNICEF NZ Writes for Children’s Rights

23 November 2011

Today UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund) officially launched ‘For Each and Every Child/ He Taonga Tonu te Tamariki’, an inspiring new book that celebrates and champions children’s rights, at Wellington City Library. Read more in Scoop Independent News.


Famous rockers turning heads

17 November 2011

Rock star scarecrows are turning heads in Geraldine, all in the name of fundraising.

 

Twenty-eight scarecrows portraying famous rock stars have been created as part of the Geraldine Kindergarten scarecrow trail. Find out more in the Timaru Herald.

 

Portable vege patch impresses judges

17 November 2011

The children of Port Chalmers Kindergarten were given a big green thumbs up when they were visited by Tui School Garden Challenge judges earlier this month. Read all about it in the Otago Daily Times. 

 

Environment Action Award winners announced

17 November 2011

Camberley Kindergarten in Hastings won the Local Environment Action Fund (LEAF) Project Excellence Award. Read the full story in Scoop Independent News.

 

Bears, bears everywhere

10 November 2011

Children at West Masterton Kindergarten have teddies at the ready for the eighth annual Teddy Bear's Picnic on Saturday at Henley Lake. Read the full story in the Wairarapa Times-Age.

 

"Why aren't you the prime minister?"

4 November 2011

Labour leader Phil Goff got a grilling from a three-year-old boy at Tawa Central Kindergarten this morning.
 
"Why aren't you the prime minister?" Aari Bhat asked. Find out what Phil Goff's response was in the Dominion Post.


Kindergartens receive Good Idea Award for rainwater barrels!

4 November 2011

The Upper Hutt City Council inaugural Good Idea Award has been presented to Birchville, Brown Owl, Cottle, and Heretaunga Kindergartens for their rainwater collection systems that are helping to educate the next generation about looking after our most important resource—water. Read the full story in Scoop Independent News.

 

Kindy kids help paint town mural

2 November 2011

Pinegrove Kindergarten's budding artists got to paint the trees and grass of a mural marking the town's history which will adorn a walkway wall near the village's domain. But they missed out on painting Robert Ellis's three chickens, which were out of reach. Find out more in the Marlborough Express.

 

Lincoln kindergarten takes top environmental awards

31 October 2011

Lincoln awardIt is often said that kindergarten is at the heart of communities.


So it is fitting that the local kindergarten topped the list of recipients at Lincoln’s Envirotown Awards this week, scooping two of the most prestigious awards from more than 50 businesses in Lincoln. Find out about the two awards they received here.

 

Next steps for ECE policy

14 October 2011

The Minister of Education has announced the establishment of advisory groups to review a range of ECE areas and come up with workable solutions and provide practical and new ways of working to improve quality and consistency among ECE services. Nominations have been called for the groups. See the NZ Kindergartens media release here. Further information including the terms of reference can be found here.

Work will get underway in the new year on evaluating the ECE curriculum Te Whariki, improving transitions from ECE to school, reporting to parents, and developing a new funding model. The advisory groups were recommended by the ECE Taskforce.

See NZ Kindergartens response to the Taskfprce report here.

 

Kindergarten face lift

2 October 2011

After 30 years of congestion, bottle-necking and rainy mornings, Maungatapu Kindergarten has undergone a major redevelopment project and is celebrating its official opening.

 

This afternoon marks the official opening of the new $140,000 entranceway that has changed the flow and function of the kindergarten. Unchanged since 1974, the previous entranceway was described as ‘cluttered, prone to flooding and unwelcoming to visitors and families’.

 

Find out more in - SunLive: the bays first news.

 

 

Birthday bake-off for kindergarten

28 September 2011

It will be a sweet celebration for Redwoodtown kindergarten in Blenheim as it marks its 60th birthday this weekend.

 

The kindergarten is holding a fundraising bake-off with past teachers, students and members of the community at its Weld St centre, where photographs of the kindergarten's history will also be on display.

 

Read all about the bake-off in the Marlborough Express.

 

Starling has starring roles -

Talking bird entertaining kindy kids

14 September 2011

Buddy Loveheart is more than just a class pet for the children at Hanan Kindergarten.

 

The young starling is also a teacher, a playmate, a student and a singing star – but only when he wants to be.

 

Read the story and view the video at Stuff.co.nz.

 

Kindy goes all black

31 August 2011

After watching the final of the Watters Cup between Rakaia and Southern, Charlie Howden came to kindergarten and declared he was going to be an All Black. Read more in the Ashburton Guardian.

 

Marlborough kids take top prize in online art competition

16 August 2011

Four year old Leah McConnon from Stoke Kindergarten in Nelson won the early childhood category of the national online art competition art. She won two iPads for the kindergarten and an iPod for herself. Read more ...

 

Hand-some support for Kelsey fundraiser

10 August 2011

Many hands make light work when it comes to fundraising - especially those of celebrities.

That is why Kelsey Yaralla Kindergarten is auctioning hand-shaped cardboard cut-outs which have been decorated or signed by prominent New Zealanders. Find out who those celebrities are in the Otago Daily Times.

 

Bulls Kindergarten fundraiser goes for gold

9 August 2011

Fun and fundraising are on the cards for Bulls Kindergarten as tickets go on sale for their Chip and Kick Casino Night to be held October 1.

Organisers were inspired by the last casino evening, which attracted over 270 punters, and hope to see an even bigger turnout at the Bulls Town Hall this time round. Find out more at Scoop Independent News.

 

Kindies get ERO thumbs up

 9 August 2011

South Canterbury kindergartens have received commendable Education Review Office reports.

The 10 kindergartens in Timaru, Temuka, Fairlie and Twizel, part of the South Canterbury Free Kindergarten Association, were visited by ERO earlier this year. Reports were made public yesterday.

General manager Margaret Whitford said she was pleased the reports acknowledged there had been significant progress in teacher assessment, planning and evaluation, and in self-review processes for teachers and the association.  Read the whole story in the Timaru Herald.

 

Ranfurly youngsters in line for new kindergarten next year

6 August 2011

Ranfurly is set to get a new kindergarten. 

In an announcement made yesterday, Central Otago Kindergarten Association president Gigi Hollyer confirmed the association will be opening the Maniototo Kindergarten in March next year. Read the full story in the Southland Times.

 

Kindy shortfall being met

6 August 2011

The Central Otago Kindergarten Association is meeting a shortfall in funding so work can begin immediately on the new Maniototo Kindergarten. Read the full story in the Otago Daily Times.

 

Sick teddy bears get their treatment

 3 August 2011

More than 150 Dunedin kindergarten children vill visit, and their teddy bears will be treated by medical students at a teddy bear hospital set up in the Otago Medical School clinical studies laboratory. Read the full story in the Otago Daily Times. See the teddys on TVNZ.

 

Lord Robert Winston & Sir Peter Gluckman on Early Childhood Education

31 July 2011

Television New Zealand's Q+A programme, with Lord Winston and Sir Peter Gluckman, focussed on investment in the early years. See the interview here.

 

Annette King on Early Childhood Education

31 July 2011

See Television New Zealand's Q+A interview with Annette King  about the importance of putting funding, investment and priority on those first five years of a child’s life.

 

Every Child Thrives, Belongs Achieves

27 July 2011

The Government is concerned about the number of children who have childhoods that make it unlikely they will thrive, belong and achieve. They have released a discussion paper which outlines a number of ideas on how to improve leadership for vulnerable children, some policy changes, and some changes to how services are delivered. You are invited to respond to the paper. Submissions close 28 February 2012 . Read the Green paper for Vulnerable Children here.

 

New mentoring guidelines build confident teachers

26 July 2011

New mentoring guidelines build confident teachers and learners. “New induction and mentoring guidelines will evolve how mentor teachers build the confidence, satisfaction and expertise of New Zealand’s newest teachers and their learners,” said Teachers Council Director Dr Peter Lind today. Read more in Scoop News.

 

Child-care costs pressure for families

25 July 2011

Dunedin Kindergarten Association general manager Christine Gale said the association lost $1.2 million, or 15%, of its funding in February and had increased its fees by 25%.

"For some families, any increase is significant because they are on such tight budgets," she said.

While parents understood the increases were necessary, for others it meant reducing their children's hours in ECE to maintain budgets. Read the full story in the Otago Daily Times.

 

Kindergarten funding

27 July 2011

Questions were raised in the media recently about kindergarten funding. As not-for-profit services, all funding received goes into kindergarten to ensure high quality early childhood education for children and families, provided by 100% qualified and registered teachers. NZ Kindergartens chief executive Clare Wells explains how the funding works with Simon Pound and The Panel on National Radio.   

 

A vision for ECE

 18 July 2011

Rahui Katene, MP for Te Tai Tonga presented Maori Party’s vision for early childhood education in Aotearoa: Te Whariki: Past, Present, and Future to kindergarten teachers attending their annual conference in Wellington on 18 July. Read the full story in Scoop Independent News.

 

Making way for new kindergartens

15 July 2011

Children from two Dunedin kindergartens will be moving into new premises next year.  The Dunedin Kindergarten Association is replacing old buildings and rebuilding new centres on the same sites. Children watched the demolition of John Rhodes Kindergarten last week. Read more in the Otago Daily Times.

 

Standards undermined

4 July 2011 

The Ministry of Education’s latest decision to allow early childhood education (ECE) centres to have an extra 100 children in one space undermines standards. Read the NZK Press Release here.

 

Cuts see increased fees for parents

4 July 2011

Victory Kindergarten children, parents and staff were not afraid to get their hands dirty yesterday, as they protested Government funding cuts to early childhood education. Read more in the Nelson Mail

 

Handy protest against kindy cuts

4 July 2011

Pupils at Wakatipu Kindergarten let their hands do the talking on Thursday, with green paint used to put their handprints on pieces of paper, protesting proposed cuts to early childhood funding. Find out more in the Otago Daily Times.

 

New Matarau kindergarten opens

30 June 2011

Future generations of Matarau pre-schoolers received a boost yesterday as a kindergarten costing over $700,000 was opened in the rural settlement. Find out more about the new kindergarten in the Northland Advocate.

 

Children have hand in protest

28 June 2011

Ako Early Learning Centre, in Dunedin, is putting its weight behind a New Zealand Educational Institute initiative to oppose cuts to early childhood education (ECE) funding. Read the full story in the Otago Daily Times


Kindergarten enjoys healthy celebration

28 June 2011

Bulls Kindergarten is proud to receive the region’s first Pa Harakeke Healthy Heart Award for an ongoing commitment to healthy eating and active movement. Read more in Scoop News.

 

ECE Taskforce Report - Tensions and contradictions

28 June 2011

Clare Wells latest blog talks about the tensions and contradictions within the ECE Tasforce report. Read Clare's blog here.

 

Most successful duck race ever in Havelock North

28 June 2011

The sun was not shining, but it was a good day for the ducks at Karamu Stream in Havelock North yesterday. Read all about it in Hawkes Bay Today


Kindergarten, 40, cooks up fundraiser

27 June 2011

Bluff Kindergarten celebrated its 40th birthday with the launch of The Bluff Kindergarten Cook Book.

Recipes came from staff and parents who have been involved with the kindergarten during the past 40 years. Find out more in the Southland Times.

 

Government funding cuts impact kindergartens

26 June 2011

The Wellington Kindergarten Association is looking for ways to meet a $3 million funding shortfall. Like other kindergarten associations around the country, the Wellington association lost around 14% of its funding when the government cut funding to early childhood education services employing 100% qualified teachers. Read the Dominion Post article here.

 

Government ECE cuts force Kindergartens into a corner

22 June 2011

A letter to parents and whanau from Wellington Kindergartens – a non-profit early childcare provider - outlining an increase in fees - is an inevitable consequence of Government cuts to Early Childhood Education (ECE), according to Labour List MP based in Ohariu Charles Chauvel. The full story is available at Scoop News.

 

ECE Taskforce Report Released

2 June 2011

The ECE Taskforce released its report on 1 June. It advocates the need for high quality ECE services and greater investment of Government funding over time. There are many positive recommendations, but also some worrying proposals including a radical shift in funding. The current ‘20 hours free’ will be replaced by a subsidy which parents will be expected to top up and there will be greater use of targeting. Read the NZ Kindergartens (NZK) press release here 

NZK Chief Executive Clare Wells talks about the funding proposal on TV1's Breakfast on Thursday 2nd June 2011.

Clare and  NZ Childcare Association Chief Executive Nancy Bell talk about the implications of the proposals on Radio New Zealand.

 

ECE Music Festival

Enjoy a day of music and entertainment for families and celebrate the role early childhood education plays in the lives of  young children. There will be local bands, DVs, as well as heaps of childrens entertainment.

Saturday 28th May Aro Valley Community Centre 11am - 3pm

 

Walk of Wonder

22 May 2011

Walk of Wonder 1Walk of wonder 2Walk of wonder 3

Around 120 Southland children and their families participated in the excitement of kindergarten in the park on 22 May. All 23 kindergartens participated with each having a banner and an activity for children to participate in. Pam Wilson, Advisory Support Teacher at the Kindergartens South said “It was a great success and a real buzz seeing families out on a lovely winter's day having fun …. while learning a bit more about the importance of what goes on in kindergartens.” Kindergartens South.

 

2011 Government Budget - Investment in early childhood education critical

20 May 2011

 

An increase of $550 million for early childhood education receives a cautious welcome from New Zealand Kindergartens.

“While we support an increase to the overall spend to meet the cost of increased participation, it will provide limited relief to individual services still feeling the effects of the cuts announced in the 2010 budget.” said Clare Wells, Chief Executive.

See the full media release.

 

See earlier home page posts here.