Qualification / registration targets
Summary:
As of 31 December 2007 teacher-led, centre based services need to ensure 50% of the total staff required to meet regulated adult:child ratios, hold an ECE teaching qualification recognised by the New Zealand Teacher’s Council for registration purposes.
The date for achieving 80% registered teachers in teacher-led, centre-based early childhood education (ECE) services has been extended to 2012. This page has more information about how these initiatives work.
Background:
On 31 December 2007 the 50% Teacher Qualification Requirement came into effect. This means teacher-led, centre based ECE services need 50% of the "total regulated staff" to hold an ECE teaching qualification recognised by the New Zealand Teachers Council for the purposes of registration.
"Total regulated staff" means the staff required to meet their regulated adult:child ratios for their licensed maximum number of children ie the maximum number of children specified on the licence.
The Teacher Qualification Requirement is a licensing requirement under the Education (Early Childhood Centres) Regulations 1998 and Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 for teacher-led, centre based early childhood education services, and will be managed as any other licensing requirement.
The date for achieving 80% registered teachers in teacher-led, centre-based early childhood education (ECE) services has been extended to 2012. This will help maintain sufficiently high standards across the ECE sector while easing the demand for registered teachers in the sector in the short term.
The 80% target applies to teacher-led, centre-based services only. Sessional kindergartens are still required by the Education Act 1989 to have 100% registered teachers.
These targets do not affect home-based ECE services or parent-led services such as kōhanga reo or Playcentre.
If your ECE service anticipates having difficulty in meeting licensing requirements, contact your local office of the Ministry of Education who will be able to discuss your situation.
How do ECE Services meet the 50% Teacher Qualification Requirement?
ECE services can count the following staff under the 50% requirement:
- the "person responsible", as they are already required to be a qualified and registered teacher
- staff with a recognised and registerable ECE qualification. Note that part-time staff may count for no more than two licensed services
- one staff member who is in their final year of study for an ECE teaching qualification
- Qualified teachers that work in more than two licensed ECE services will be required to nominate which two ECE services are able to count their position towards the 50% requirement.
Below is an example:
Tinorawe Childcare Centre (an education and care service) is licensed to operate as an all day service with a maximum of 10 children aged under 2 children and 30 children aged over 2. To meet the adult:child ratios, Tinorawe Childcare Centre needs to have a total of 5 teachers:
- 10 under 2 children = 2 teachers
- 30 over 2 children = 3 teachers
To meet the 50% requirement Tinorawe Childcare Centre will need 3 teachers who hold an ECE teaching qualification recognised by the New Zealand Teachers Council. This is because although 50% of 5 regulated staff is 2.5, the requirement is rounded up to the nearest whole number.
The three people required under the 50% requirement do not necessarily need to be full time employees.
The following evidence needs to be held at each licensed ECE service:
- Staff qualification documents confirming that the people being counted under the 50% requirement hold an ECE qualification recognised by the New Zealand Teachers Council for the purposes of registration.
- Staffing roster showing that the people being counted toward the 50% requirement are rostered to work at the service. Please note, services do not need to calculate how many hours are being worked.
- Verification of Final Year of Study Form - this form is to be completed by staff who are in training and who are being counted towards the 50% Teacher Qualification Regulatory Requirement verification of final year of study form. A download of this form is provided at the top of this page.
- Evidence of formal working relationship: These could be employment or volunteer agreements, letters of appointment and so on.
- Part time ECE Qualified Teachers Attestation Form - this form is to be completed by part time ECE Qualified teachers working in two or more licensed ECE services, and who are being counted towards the 50% Teacher Qualification Regulatory Requirement. The staff hour count will not be used to assess compliance with the 50% Teacher Qualification Requirement. A download of this form is provided at the top of this page.
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