Playcentre offers a range of resources to allow members and centres to excel in providing Early Childhood Education.

We are publishers of education books within the early childhood field, we offer education to all our members, but it has to be said that 'The finest' resource we do offer are our fantastic parents who nurture and educate our Tamariki through the fine art of play.

Check out the publications available to you, under the 'Publications' link.

Another Educational Resource we provide to our Members is learning through the knowledge gained from Research.

Please take the time to browse the Research Resources Provided below.

For further information regarding research please contact Maureen Woodhams - Federation Media Officer, media@playcentre.org.nz

Assessing the evidence on early childhood education/childcare. Dr Sarah-Eve Farquhar. Childforum Research. May 2008

Early childhood education/childcare policy in New Zealand is based on ideology and not on evidence of what is best for children. In other words our ECE policy is not evidence-based. In September 2002 the government released a 10 year plan for ECE and the New Zealand Council for Educational Research Competent Children, Competent Learners study was drawn on to justify the values underpinning the plan and ECE policy. But the study had limited findings relating to ECE effects and quite major methodological problems. Policy development and implementation proceeded without a clear understanding and knowledge of positive and negative childcare/ECE effects. A systematic review (in difference to a general review of the literature) of the best evidence, independently conducted by Childforum Research, using a set of criteria for selection was carried out. This first working paper outlines the major pieces of evidence and discusses these in the light of current ECE policy considerations and directions in New Zealand.

This paper was presented to delegates at the New Zealand Playcentre Conference in May 2008 by Dr Sarah Farquhar, and is available here.