The Government has introduced some changes to the Alert Level Order to improve ease of access to QR codes for customers visiting a business or public facility.

The changes come into force on 11.59pm Tuesday 5 October.

You must now ensure that:

• additional copies of a QR code poster are displayed, in places other than just in the entrance way (this is in addition to copies already required to be displayed at or near the main entrance of a workplace)
• QR code posters will now be required to be in good condition
• the QR code must not be altered in a way that makes it unclear that it has been issued by the NZ Government for the purposes of contact tracing (meaning workplaces should use the official COVID-19 QR code poster, or at least ensure there is information on their poster relating this being a Government requirement).

With the introduction of a testing regime for personal travel and a downward trend in new cases identified in Auckland, Cabinet has agreed that the permitted reasons for travel can safely be expanded.

These changes now apply to people in Auckland who need to move to a new home or start a new job outside of Auckland, as well as families whose ability to maintain shared childcare arrangements has been restricted.

The additional permitted movement across from the alert level boundary now include:

• relocating permanently to
  • move to a new property
  • start a new job
  • travel to a tertiary education residence.
• travelling for the purpose of shared caregiving arrangements
• returning home from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2.

Most people aged 12 and over need to get a test before permitted personal travel from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2. You do not need a test when travelling out of Alert Level 2.

The full list of permitted personal travel, testing requirements and evidence required, is on the Unite Against COVID-19 website.

Permitted travel – Unite Against COVID-19

If you have kaiako wondering about what ‘giftedness’ means for tamariki and whānau in your early learning service, CORE Education have a workshop for you.

You’re invited to register and attend one of the free Pito Mata (Realising Potential) workshops on ‘giftedness’ in early learning. The workshop will present a view of ‘giftedness’ located in a kawe mana framework that aligns to Te Whāriki (2017) and upholds the mana of all.

You will come away with an understanding of giftedness from different cultural perspectives and contexts, and begin to explore ideas about what to notice, recognise and respond to in your early learning service.

Find out more and to register free of charge on Google forms.

Pito Mata workshop registration form – Google 

There is a choice of workshop times, some in-person and some online. The first round of five in-person workshops will be held 18 to 29 October in Whakatane, Palmerston North, Johnsonville, Nelson and Christchurch.

The workshop is stand-alone but will be followed by a free online learning programme that explores ‘giftedness’ in early learning contexts in more depth. More information will follow on how to register for the online learning programme.

Note: If COVID-19 alert levels make in-person gatherings impractical or impossible, we will look to carry out all of the workshops online.

We’ve been working with a group of experts and members of the sector to develop draft tools to help strengthen formative assessment and teaching practice within the framework of "Te Whāriki He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa".

The tools are designed to help kaiako attend to individual children’s progress in order to identify ways to deepen or strengthen children’s learning through effective teacher practice. The first set of tools is in the area of children’s social-emotional learning.

CORE Education is leading a PLD-supported trial, ‘Kōwhiti Whakapae: Practice and progress tools to support competent and confident kaiako and mokopuna’, of these tools from November 2021 to May 2022.

Supported trial of Kōwhiti Whakapae – CORE Education

The trial will include up to 120 early learning services with some participating in face-to-face PLD and others in online PLD.  

If you and other kaiako in your early learning service would like to participate in this trial, you can find out more and register on the CORE Education website or email kowhitiwhakapae@core-ed.ac.nz.

From 1 January 2022, all licensed early learning services/kōhanga reo must have regard for the National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) within self-review and internal evaluation, and annual planning licensing criteria requirements.

The NELP set out Government’s priorities for what our education system needs to focus on across all sectors and places of learning, to help ensure the success and wellbeing of all ākonga/learners.

Earlier this year, as part of Tranche 1 of the Early Learning Regulatory Review, we consulted on changes to licensing criteria to help support services understand how they can have regard for these national learning priorities. 

As noted above, these changes come into effect early next year and we have prepared draft guidance to support services to meet the updated licensing criteria. This guidance is a ‘working draft’ until 1 January 2022, so that you have time to become familiar with what you can do to help embed the priorities into everyday practices. We welcome any feedback on the draft guidance from you, your kaiako/staff and whānau or share as you wish.

GMA6 and GMA8: Licensing criteria and draft guidance for centre-based and hospital-based services [PDF, 136 KB]

GMA5 and GMA7: Licensing criteria and draft guidance for home-based services [PDF, 136 KB]

We welcome any feedback before Sunday 31 October. Send your feedback to ece.info@education.govt.nz.

Guidance for kōhanga reo is provided by Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust. Whānau seeking more information about the NELP in kōhanga reo should contact their local district manager.

We are working with the Education Review Office who are adapting existing internal evaluation tools to help support services have regard for the NELP.