As part of New Zealand’s response to Omicron, the Government is establishing a close contact exemption scheme to keep critical supply chains running when we enter Phase 2.

We don’t anticipate early learning services will need to access the scheme, unless you have a situation where you have insufficient staff able to come on site to supervise the children of workers who are unable to have them home.

The scheme will be used to enable people who are close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case to continue to work if what they do is critical for our supply chains and key sectors to keep operating. They must not have symptoms and will need to return daily negative rapid antigen tests.

Under Red, schools and kura remain open. You will already have plans in place to respond to staff absences. More information on the close contact exemption scheme:

Testing and returning to work – MBIE

A reminder that the Ministry is here to help you as you plan for Omicron, and any questions you have can be directed to your regional contact

Te Mahau regional COVID-19 contact – Ministry of Education

In our bulletins dated 25 January and 3 February we outlined the requirement for booster doses in early learning services. We understand the booster requirement requires extra effort to determine when a person must receive their booster dose and we appreciate your mahi. 

COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order 2022 – New Zealand Legislation

Public Health Order requiring mandatory booster doses – Early Learning Bulletin 3 February

We have attached a template letter that you can provide to your employees, contractors, and volunteers outlining these requirements.

Letter template: Mandatory boosters for staff and volunteers [PDF, 103KB]

Below are two examples to help show how the booster requirements apply in practice:

Maria’s second COVID-19 vaccination was on 20 August 2021.

Maria is required to have received a booster dose by 1 March 2022 as more than 183 days have passed since her second vaccination.

Lincoln’s second COVID-19 vaccination was on 15 December.

Even though the mandated date for Lincoln’s booster dose is 1 March, Lincoln is not required to receive a booster by this date. Instead, Lincoln must receive a booster dose by 16 June 2022, 183 days after receiving the second vaccination. Lincoln can continue working on site until 16 June 2022 without having received a booster.

Lincoln can, however, receive a booster dose any time from 15 March 2022, three months after his second vaccination.

The information below has been adapted from the face mask exemption advice from the Ministry of Health website.

COVID-19: Use of face masks in the community – Ministry of Health

While face masks are currently mandatory for visitors (including parents and caregivers) when coming indoors at a licensed early childhood service, this does not apply to people with a physical or sensory disability, mental health or other health condition that makes wearing a face mask unsuitable.

It is not always obvious why wearing a face covering is unsuitable for someone. You have a right to query whether people are exempt but should do so appropriately and be aware that no one is obliged to share personal information with you. If someone tells you they meet the criteria for exemption, it is important that they are supported.

Who does not need to wear a mask? – Unite against COVID-19

You need to ensure you do not discriminate against people who are exempt from wearing a face mask. Equally, your staff have a right to be safe from abusive and threatening behaviour. If an exchange about mask requirements escalates, you should apply your usual conflict resolution process. If you have any concerns or need support, please contact your regional Te Mahau Ministry office.

Te Mahau regional COVID-19 contact – Ministry of Education

Under the Covid Protection Framework, parents do not need to be vaccinated for their children to participate in early learning, but workers and volunteers in early learning services must be vaccinated to be on site. In the playcentre context, most adults will be both a ‘parent’, and a ‘worker’ (either voluntary or paid).

Unlike school, it is not compulsory to attend an early childhood education service and therefore there is no corresponding right to do so. Parents must meet the enrolment requirements as set out by the service for their child to participate. For example, this might be an agreement to attend for a certain number of hours each week, or to pay fees of a set amount per hour.

For playcentres, parental involvement is generally a key enrolment requirement, although this might look slightly different for each centre. Some will require parents to attend every session with their child, others may assign a ‘duty day’ each week, or place parents on a roster for the term.

The Ministry has recognised parent involvement as core to playcentre operations and as part of the agreed funding conditions for playcentres all children under two-and-a-half years of age must be accompanied by a parent (or caregiver). 

In practice, in order for a playcentre to function, most parents will be required to actively participate in delivering, or supporting the delivery of, the education programme to their own and other children on playcentre sessions; that is, to fulfil the role of a worker. Under the Vaccination Order, unvaccinated adults are not able to be workers (either paid or voluntary) at early learning services. In some cases, this may mean that their children are also not able to attend because of the requirement for children to be accompanied by their parent or caregiver.

It is important to note that under the COVID Protection Framework, parent vaccination cannot be a condition of enrolment. Where parents are not vaccinated, there may be other alternative ways to fulfil the enrolment requirements and mitigate the risk to children, such as having other vaccinated family members attend sessions with the child or for a family to be excused from participating on session in exchange for taking on greater responsibility in centre management and administration. Whether accommodations can be made will depend on a number of factors and are matters for individual centres to determine.

• Anyone who is unwell should not attend the service.
• You should strongly encourage staff members or tamariki with COVID-19 symptoms to get a COVID-19 test and remain at home while they wait for their test result.
• Children and adults should be symptom free for at least 24 hours prior to their return but do not have to provide evidence of a negative test.

The latest Education Review Office (ERO) publication looks at how children’s cultures and languages can be reflected in everyday practice, supporting their learning and wellbeing.

Drawn from home-based early learning settings 'Responding to Diverse Cultures: Good practice in home-based early childhood services' is a collection of useful examples to inspire and motivate kaiako to grow their ability in culturally responsive teaching.

You can read the report and short summary ERO's website

Responding to diverse cultures: Good practice in home-based early childhood services – Education Review Office

Summary: Responding to diverse cultures –  Education Review Office

On the back of this report release, ERO is running a webinar at 7pm on Thursday 3 March.

This short webinar is free to attend and any early childhood kaiako are welcome to join.

If you are interested in attending the webinar,  RSVP to teIhuwaka@ero.govt.nz and a link to the webinar will be sent out closer to the time.