Questions from the audience included a concerning story of a centre that was struggling to get support for a high needs child. This child had caused another child to be hospitalised. Despite MOE’s assessment that the child needed fulltime support, they were only offering eight hours of funding. Combined with the fact there is a three month wait for learning support assessment, this centre asked what they could possibly do. Both politicians stated they were seriously looking at this issue but made little commitment to what solutions they would present. Pressed on how this wasn’t just a funding issue but a shortage of qualified early intervention assessors and teachers, both argued the short term solution was adjusting immigration settings to attract more of the skilled workforce to New Zealand. Simmonds went on to express support for Pay Parity but cautioned that this had to be achieved differently to how it was now, recognising the value of keeping experienced teachers in centres. Similarly, when challenged on how small rural centres with small numbers could be more sustainable, Simmonds expressed support but was cautious that additional funding could be made available. Seymour had a more market based approach, relying on demand in small centres to provide the correct level of staffing. In Max Rashbrooke’s presentation he said if he had the opportunity to ask the politicians anything, we wanted to know what they will do on child poverty, particularly their plans for the child poverty targets introduced by former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Recognising that the sector is often at the forefront of the effects of disadvantage, this was put to the panel. Possibly unexpectedly from the parties on the right of politics, both committed to keeping them in some form. Simmonds stated National would retain the Child Poverty Reduction Act and change some of the targets. Seymour also acknowledged the importance of the targets but wanted more focus on the measures that looked at actual disadvantage (like living in warm homes) than the measures that just pegged poverty against the wealth outcomes for the country. Whilst absent, the Green Party’s Child Policy and Education policy are available online and focuses on all ECEs having policies and practices to ensure inclusive environments. Te Pāti Māori's Education Policy does not have a specific ECE focus but promises About the author Brigitte Morten is a Director at Franks Ogilvie, and admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court. She works extensively in the private sector and particularly enjoys working with member-based organisations. She is also a regular commentator for RNZ and Newshub and writes weekly columns for NBR. significant increases in support for kaupapa Māori education. National, ACT and Labour have not yet released, or promised to release, dedicated policies on early childhood. A few days before the conference, the TV programme, Paddy Gower Has Issues, included commentary that some early childhood centres were “state funded child abuse”. There was no support for that statement in the room. And, at least from those that turned up, those politicians viewed the sector as a valuable part of the education sector. August 2023 { 15 }
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