We are pleased to provide comment to the Petition to Implement a 1:4 ratio for children under three years of age attending Early Childhood Education (ECE) 1:4 -U3!
The current ratios
The ratio is currently one teacher per five children under two and two teachers per twenty children over two. We are proposing 1:4 teacher to child ratio for under three’s. 1:4 -U3!
The wording on the Parliamentary Petition
I respectfully request: That the House of Representatives implement a 1:4 ratio for under threes (one teacher to four children under three years of age attending Early Childhood Education) supported by realistic funding so that the Early Childhood Education sector can affordably deliver this ratio.
This is about the quality provision of ECE
We are advocating for children who do not get a say and do not get a vote but deserve more than the level of care and attention being afforded by our current government standards.
When children/tamariki are young, they need dedicated attention to stay safe and have their needs tended to. We believe the current Early Childhood Education ratio of one teacher/kaiako to five children under two needs to be updated. We believe lower ratios are beneficial for tamariki because they enable teachers to focus on children; they better support child-staff relationships; they increase the quality of interactions between adults and children; and they reduce the stress on tamariki.
Who organised the Petition?
The petition was organised by Childspace and Te Rito Maioha. It was presented to MPs on 25th August 2023 on the Parliamentary grounds as part of the Ketekete Mai, Make a noise for ECE! The petition was then officially presented to the new Parliament on 27/03/24.
Why are ratios important?
- When children are younger, they need more dedicated attention to stay safe and have their needs tended to. This is why the current ratio in Early Childhood Education (ECE) for under twos has fewer children per teacher than for older children (one to five). A human being is an infant until they are three years old, yet our current model creates an arbitrary cut off age of two which leaves 2-3 year old children as the lowest funded group - but these children have all the needs of under two year old children (nappy changing, developing language and social skills).
- Children under 3 are in a critical and sensitive period of development and they require attuned, well-qualified, self-regulating adults to guide and scaffold them in their intense feelings, and behaviours.
- The ratios were arbitrarily set in the 1960s and then 1990s with no evidence or research. Successive governments have promised action but have never delivered.
- Lowering the children to teacher ratios in early childhood education is required urgently.
- Lower ratios are widely accepted by educators, ECE providers and the Ministry of Education, as being beneficial for children because:
o Lower ratios ensure that teachers are able to focus on a child when they require attention eg when they are upset, hurt or need changing.
o Lower ratios support child-staff relationships and allow staff to focus more on the needs of the individual child.
o Lower ratios reduce the amount of unsupervised time that occurs when needing to deal with disruptions such as changing nappies and clothes, accidents etc.
o Research suggests that the quality of interactions between adults and children play a highly important role in stimulating early learning. In high quality interactions, adults are genuinely interested in what the child is doing.
o A higher number of children to teachers can make teaching more about managing the environment, routines and undertaking safety checks, rather than having the time and space to spend time with a child helping them to learn. Higher numbers of children increase noise levels, can lead to higher temperatures and overcrowding.
o A higher number of children creates significant stress on kaiako (teachers), and are a factor in burnout, staff retention, and are off putting for job applicants. There is a significant shortage of ECE teachers and better conditions are required to encourage people to train and reduce health and safety concerns.
- Many high-quality providers have already put in place lower children to teacher ratios, funding this through parental fees or reduced profit margins. Regulating for a lower ratio will ensure a better baseline of service, while supporting those centres that refuse to teach to the outdated ratios.
- The government must also appropriately fund the ECE sector to deliver lower ratios, along with Pay Equity and Pay Parity by urgently replacing the outdated, dysfunctional ECE funding model to meet the real needs of today’s working whānau, tamariki and ECE services.
- The current funding model assumes the costs to providers is based on the minimum ratio which a significant number of ECE providers do not work to. This creates compounding problems when the funding mechanism is tied to an unsafe ratio.
Related Information
- The government also needs to tackle teacher shortages with a meaningful strategic workforce plan to attract, retain and develop a professional, culturally responsive ECE teaching workforce from within Aotearoa New Zealand, and simplify regulations to support quality education delivery without over-burdening ECE services with labour-intensive administration demands from multiple agencies.
- The government also needs to urgently replace the outdated, dysfunctional ECE funding model to meet the real needs of today’s working whānau, tamariki and ECE services.
Proposal
That the House of Representatives implement a 1:4 ratio for under threes (one teacher to four children under three years of age attending Early Childhood Education) supported by realistic funding so that the Early Childhood Education sector can affordably deliver this ratio.
About Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand
Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand (Te Rito Maioha) is an Incorporated Society of members committed to high quality early childhood education for every child. Established in 1963, the organisation is an influential leader in shaping today’s early childhood sector through advocacy, policy, tertiary education qualifications and professional development programmes.
We advocate for early childhood education services and the teachers|kaiako who provide education to thousands of infants, toddlers, and children|tamariki. Our members are drawn from a diverse range of community-based, privately-owned, kindergarten and homebased early childhood education services.
Te Rito Maioha is also a registered Private Training Establishment (PTE) with the highest Category One rating for a tertiary provider. We are accredited and approved by New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to deliver a range of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate qualifications (levels 4-9), including specialist teacher|kaiako education, both nationally and internationally.
We are committed to achieving high-quality teaching and learning by:
• increasing teachers’|kaiako knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Aotearoa New Zealand’s dual cultural heritage;
• providing access to online blended delivery of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate tertiary education programmes leading to recognised and approved qualifications;
• promoting quality teaching and leadership through ongoing professional learning and development programmes;
• providing a range of unique resources and services to our members.
About Childspace Early Childhood Institute
The Childspace Institute is an educational organisation committed to improving Early Childhood Education provision and practices and operates four early childhood centres in Wellington providing inspiration for our practical professional development, resources and designs.
Our vision is that those who choose to come to Childspace for professional development will be fully immersed in quality practices, equipment, programming and real examples. The Childspace Institute is unique in its approach of facilitation by those teachers and managers who have first hand, up to date, applied knowledge and expertise.
Key contact for Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand:
Kathy Wolfe, Chief Executive
[email protected]
Key contact for Childspace Early Childhood Institute:
Toni Christie, Director
[email protected]
Media contact:
Rob McCann - Lead Communications Advisor | Kaitohutohu Whakapā Matua
Mobile 022 411 4560
[email protected]