Education (Update) Amendment Bill introduced
The Education (Update) Amendment Bill (the Bill) was introduced into Parliament on 22 August and had its first reading on 13 September. It amends the Education Act 1989 to make the achievement and learning of children and young people central to the early childhood education and compulsory schooling parts of the Act.
The Bill proposes a series of objectives for our education system that will provide a clear direction for early childhood services, ngā kōhanga reo and schools in the delivery of education to our children and young people. These objectives focus our educators on children’s achievement and success, the preparation of learners for work and life, the teaching of critical thinking and resilience, and the recognition of cultural identity, the Treaty of Waitangi and te reo Māori.
The Bill proposes that, after consultation, the Minister of Education can issue a statement of National Education and Learning Priorities. ECE providers and ngā kōhanga reo would need to take these priorities into account in their teaching and learning programmes. They would be accountable for them when reporting to parents and government agencies.
The Bill also proposes to enable schools to implement a cohort entry policy whereby new entrants could only start school at the beginning of each term. The earliest that children would be able to start school is at the beginning of the term closest to their fifth birthday.
Before introducing a cohort entry policy, each school would be required to consult with school staff, parents of current and prospective students of the school, and local early childhood education services.
The Bill further proposes to extend the requirement for regular attendance at school to children enrolled in school under the age of 6. Regular attendance in the first year of school supports the development of positive dispositions to learning and provides a sound foundation for future learning and achievement.
Where a child with special education needs would benefit from a staggered transition to school, a transition plan could be agreed between the child’s parents, the enrolling school and the Ministry of Education. The child would then be required to attend in accordance with that plan.
The Bill does not propose any changes to the regulatory framework for ECE services, or to the standards that services need to comply with.
The Bill has now been referred to the Education and Science Committee. The Committee is now calling for submissions on the Bill until 11 November 2016. At this stage it is likely that the Bill will pass into law in the first half of 2017.
More information, including a copy of the Bill, can be found on the Education Update Amendment Bill page on education.govt.nz.
Offering OSCAR and other out of school programmes
With school holidays coming up, some early childhood education (ECE) services may consider offering out of school programmes for school-aged children.
Children enrolled at school cannot participate in an ECE programme offered at an ECE service.
Out of school programmes (including OSCAR accredited programmes) can be delivered in licensed ECE premises outside the ECE service’s licensed hours.
However, during licensed hours these programmes can be delivered in separate or adjacent premises to the licensed ECE service and can share some of the ECE service’s amenities.
Children registered in these programmes are not eligible for any Ministry of Education early childhood funding.
For more information contact your regional Ministry of Education office.