Kia ora koutou, The above whakataukī can signify resilience, empowerment and hope. It can refer to one’s ability to use the skills and resources they have to create success, along with being responsible to grow and develop. In many ways this whakataukī relates well to this year’s ECC conference theme, Striving for Excellence; achieving success in early learning through building value and resilience. This issue has a strong focus on ECC’s conference in July. From the success of last’s year conference, the ECC are themselves striving to grow and develop in what they offer to conference participants. They have high expectations for their attendees and working hard to source high quality keynote speakers and workshop presenters to ensure the topics are relevant, inspiring and informational from the political panel to the social events. If you haven’t already bought your ticket, it will be hard to resist once you’ve read the full programme and accompanying information – enjoy! The ECC is also working hard as an organisation to develop and strengthen the benefits they offer members. One area they are focused on is ensuring their preferred suppliers are meeting the current needs of their members, hence the introduction of their latest new preferred supplier, Candidex, New Zealand’s international ECE recruitment experts. To find out more about the benefits this preferred supplier offers ECC members head to page 12. This year the weather has been extreme and unexpected with floods and Cyclone Gabrielle causing much destruction to many parts of Aotearoa. Cyclone Gabrielle produced considerable disruption to ECE services in the Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti region. To read some personal accounts of how some ECE centres were effected in the Hawkes Bay and reflections on what we can do better in the future go to page 16. A big part of the recovery of ECE centres effected in extreme weather events is insurance. Crombie Lockwood Child Proof insurance package is an example of how ensuring you have the right support can enable your business to survive the worst. Read more about Crombie Lockwood and how they supported ECE centres on page 18. Conference presenter Tiffany Smith, a regular contributor to Swings & Roundabouts, has written an article sharing the recent Ministry of Education (MoE) ECE recommendations on how to maximise freshair ventilation capabilities while maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature to help reduce the transmission of airborne illnesses. Go to page 32 for more info. As of 1 February 2023, appraisals are no longer the process used by the Teaching Council for making decisions about whether a professional leader meets Ngā Paerewa | Standards as required for their practising certificate type. Go to page 36 to get some ideas and understanding how ECE professional leaders can meet and retain their endorsement for certification. On page 38 is a fun think-piece, Are you smarter than a 4-year-old? Some insights offered in the article include: the importance of knowing the strengths of your colleagues and using them, team-work, listening to one another and trial and error. Hopefully as you read this editorial you are warm and toasty with the sun shining through the window. Once again thank you to our contributors. If you would like to showcase your centre or would like to share something special your ECE centre/s are doing, please get in touch. Ngā mihi Trudi Sutcliffe Editor FROM THE EDITOR He kai kei aku ringa. There is food at the end of my hands. June 2023 { 7 }
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=