He Pānui Kōhungahunga
Update – 1 September 2022
He Pānui Kōhungahunga
Kia ora koutou,
We have listened to your feedback that bulletins have sometimes been more frequent than necessary. So, from now on He Pānui Kōhungahuna | The Early Learning Bulletin will be published fortnightly.
If necessary, we will publish special bulletins to deal with things out of cycle but will aim to stick to the regular edition.
A special thanks to Haven Early Learning Centre who came back to us with their innovative work in New Zealand Sign Language that is featured in the latest Education Gazette.
Ngā manaakitanga
Iona
Absence Funding
Funding for short-term absences
Short-term absences related to winter-illness or COVID-19 do not always require an absence exemption.
Under the normal absence rules funding support for when a child is away includes:
- the three-week rule provides funding for three weeks of continuous absence regardless of reason
- the frequent absence rule allows for three months of irregular attendance before an enrolment agreement needs to be changed.
Services should consider how these supports protect a child’s funding claim before applying an absence exemption as this may reduce the need to complete EC12 or EC13 forms for absences prior to 11 August 2022.
Fourth month of frequent absence patterns
As we move into September it is important that services are mindful of the frequent absence pattern of their children.
September is the fourth month since the count for the frequent absence rule was reset on 1 June 2022. This means:
- funding for children who have had the same frequent absence pattern identified in June, July and August
- must have their September enrolment agreement changed to match the pattern of the child’s attendance.
Funding should not be claimed for the child’s continuing pattern of absences in the fourth month. The frequent absence reports in your SMS can help identify the month of the child’s frequent absence pattern.
Absence exemptions
An absence exemption can be applied in your SMS for children affected by winter-illness or COVID-19 to protect against the three-week and frequent absence rules.
Through the exemption, up to 12 weeks of continuous absences can be claimed. Absences for the period of the exemption would not count towards a child’s frequent absence pattern.
For absence exemptions from:
- 1 June to 10 August 2022 services are required to complete EC12 and EC13 forms. EC13 forms can be completed by a parent or guardian in place of a medical practitioner during this time.
- 11 August to 30 September there is no requirement to complete an EC12 and EC13 form, and the absence exemption can be applied in your SMS.
For absences of four weeks or more parents will need to complete a ‘statement of intention to return’ or ‘reconfirmation of enrolment to provide the evidence that a child has not permanently left the service.
You must not claim funding for children who have left your service.
National Education Learning Priorities in early learning services
What’s happening?
The Early Learning Curriculum Team has been working with some of our key staff across both a national and local level to develop resources for the National Education Learning Priorities (NELP).
You may know that NELP are a set of objectives and priorities designed to guide those who govern licenced early learning services to focus their day-to-day work on things that will have a significant positive impact for children and young people.
We have listened to feedback from the sector and the messages you have given to the curriculum leads and advisers in your regions when thinking about what resources to develop and how to deliver these.
Resources coming soon
We will soon have a dedicated NELP page on Te Whāriki Online to provide an overview of the NELP, sector responsibilities and links to existing resources on Te Whāriki Online.
These existing resources will develop your thinking in relation to the objectives and priorities.
Future resources include:
- a short video to message the alignment of Te Whāriki and the NELP
- a series of webinars and stories of practices where kaiako share their own journey of engaging with the NELP, what they have learnt along the way and what this has meant for tamariki in their services.
As development of these resources continues, we encourage you to become familiar with the NELP document, think about your practices and processes in relation to the objectives and priorities and consider what might be hiding in the shadows of your practices.
Subscribe to Te Whāriki Online
Dates and delivery of upcoming resources and webinars will be provided on our social media pages and you can sign up for Te Whāriki Online newsletter here for updates about new resources and upcoming workshops:
Education Gazette: Early learning stories
The Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero aims to inspire teaching and learning and celebrating success and innovation.
Here are three recently published articles featuring early learning services.
New Zealand Sign Language is ‘just part of what we do’
Haven Early Learning Centre and Ebbett Park School are featured as two places that have embraced New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) as part of their environment. Kaiako, tamariki, and whānau, both hearing and non-hearing, can engage in non-verbal communication on a daily basis.
New Zealand Sign Language is ‘just part of what we do’ – Education Gazette
Toimata: Two decades of education for sustainability
We’re celebrating the nearly 1,500 early learning centres and communities involved in Enviroschools and Te Aho Tū Roa, many of which have been on sustainability journeys for several years.
An Education Gazette reporter shares her own memories, and dives into the impressive history of positive change.
Toimata: Two decades of education for sustainability – Education Gazette
Supporting road safety throughout the education journey
Road safety is an issue that impacts on all New Zealanders, from the adult driver to young pedestrians. Three organisations dedicated to improving road safety to benefit young people are Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD), MyMahi DRIVE programme, and Brake.
The latter runs ‘Beep Beep! Days’ for early learning centres, which are fun activity days for two to seven-year-olds that help teach them the road safety basics.
Supporting road safety throughout the education journey – Education Gazette
Do you have any inspiring teaching and learning successes that you’d like to share?
We welcome contributions from the early learning sector for the He Pānui Kōhungahunga | the Early Learning Bulletin and the Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero that celebrates success and innovation.
To find out more about how to submit content, contact us at earlylearning.bulletin@education.govt.nz.
Kia Manawaroa is the Ministry’s dedicated newsletter for whānau Māori with kids in education.
The latest issue is out now, and we encourage you to share it by copying and pasting the information below into your regular communications with whānau.
If you would like to share good news about something happening in your community, contact us on kia.manawaroa@education.govt.nz.
Find out how to submit an article and other information about Kia Manawaroa:
Kia Manawaroa – Education: For parents and whānau
Here is the recommended copy for your communications with whānau in Te Reo Māori and in English:
Kia Manawaroa
Ko te kaupapa matua o Kia Manawaroa, he whakapāho pānui mo ngā whānau Māori me ā rātou tamariki e noho ana ki raro i te tawharau o Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga.
Ānei te pānui hou:
Kia Manawaroa 26 August 2022 – Education: For parents and whānau
It is written by Māori for Māori, with information about opportunities and milestones in education, Māori success as Māori, Te Reo Māori and COVID-19 updates relevant to whānau as and when appropriate.
The latest issue is out now with updates about:
- Hari Huringa Tau e Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori!
- Mahuru Māori: Are you up for the challenge?
- Te Pūtahitanga with Mr. G: Wānanga for artists in Aotearoa
- New Te Reo Festival: Te Hui Ahurei Māori o Te Whanganui-a-Tara
- And so much more!
Kia Manawaroa
Kia Manawaroa is the Ministry of Education’s pānui for whānau Māori.
Read the latest issue of Kia Manawaroa:
Kia Manawaroa August 2022 – Education: For parents and whānau
It is written by Māori for Māori, with information about opportunities and milestones in education, Māori success as Māori, Te Reo Māori, and COVID-19 updates relevant to whānau as and when appropriate.
The latest issue is out now with updates about:
- Hari Huringa Tau e Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori!
- Mahuru Māori: Are you up for the challenge?
- Te Pūtahitanga with Mr. G: Wānanga for artists in Aotearoa
- New Te Reo Festival: Te Hui Ahurei Māori o Te Whanganui-a-Tara
- And so much more!
New support module launched in the Gold Star wellbeing programme
The latest module in the Gold Star wellbeing programme series is about to be released and will cover imposter syndrome and self-compassion. The module focuses on the best ways to recognise and manage these feelings and how to minimise the impact it has on your day-to-day life.
Register for the Gold Star programme – EAP Services
The webinars will be held on:
- Friday 9 September: 10–11am
- Tuesday 13 September: 7–8pm
- Thursday 15 September: 7–8pm
Please share this with your team and colleagues.
Gold Star is hosted by EAP Services where you can access e-learning modules, self-tests and webinars all designed to improve wellbeing by providing guidance on how to cope with certain situations such as stress.
All staff at early learning services are eligible to access the Gold Star programme.
If you would like to find out more about the Gold Star programme visit their website:
Learning Support Study Awards 2023
A call for all those teachers and kaiako wanting to extend their knowledge to support ākonga, whānau and communities through post graduate study in specialist teaching.
The Learning Support Study Awards support teachers and kaiako to train for the Post Graduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching at Massey University. The awards cover recipients’ course costs, employee contribution towards study leave and travel costs to attend block courses.
Applications are welcome from degree-qualified teachers who want to develop their skills supporting learners with additional learning needs.
Applications for study awards close on Friday 30 September.
You can find out more and apply at the Learning Support Study Awards and Scholarships on our website:
Learning Support Study Awards and Scholarships – Ministry of Education
Applications open for Postgraduate Study Awards – Gifted
The Postgraduate Study Awards is an opportunity for teachers and early childhood education leaders to develop their skills and knowledge to better respond to gifted learners, whānau and communities.
This award provides financial support to individuals who are enrolled or are enrolling in the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching: Gifted at Massey University.
All applicants must:
- be employed as an early childhood teacher with a current practising certificate at a registered early childhood service
- be degree qualified such as a Bachelor of Education
- have worked for at least three years with children who are gifted.
Applications close Friday 30 September.
