Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

For many families, early childhood education is the first education service they have contact
with. Families also have frequent contact with their local primary schools. This provides an
opportunity for parents to access the support they need through services co-located with
ECE centres and primary schools.
Labour will, over time as resources permit, develop and resource integrated
community hubs.
These additions will be adequately resourced to ensure that additional burdens are not
simply bolted onto current school structures and systems.
Protecting Diversity in the ECE Sector
Labour recognises that individual children have individual educational needs. One of the
great benefits of our diverse ECE sector is the range of options it provides parents and
children. Teacher-led centre-based services are popular and important – and funded
accordingly. However, Playcentre, Kōhanga Reo, and home-based ECE services all provide
something different and unique for children. These widely-respected institutions will not
become marginalised in our ECE sector.
Labour will not cut funding for Playcentres, Te Kōhanga Reo, and home-based ECE
services. We will ensure that these services continue to play an important part in
innovating and enhancing our ECE sector.
Transition from ECE to Primary Schools
Research evidence demonstrates the value of early intervention, but often education policy
solely focuses on implementation or application in the school years. Policy development and
implementation is fragmented: it lacks cohesion for children and families as they move from
an early childhood service to school; creates inequities between early childhood education
and schooling while impacting the same children; and creates a false distinction within a
single teaching profession. We need to ease transitions, enhance curriculum understanding,
and create learning communities around education leadership.
Labour will develop a policy framework that focuses on children aged 3 to 8 to
provide a more cohesive and efficient approach to the transition between ECE and
primary school, and focus on supporting the progression of the children in their early
years regardless of the educational setting.
Reaching for the stars: Whakamaua Ngā Whetu
Labour‟s plan for lifting children‟s achievement in primary schools
Labour believes every child should have the opportunity to achieve to their full potential,
supported by a strong partnership between parents, schools, neighbours and the wider
community.
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