Centrally funded workforce wellbeing package extended
Temporary wellbeing support services to support the education sector through the COVID-19 pandemic have been extended. These include Gold Star and Employment Assistance Programme (EAP) counselling support.
Gold Star, an interactive online tool that can be accessed any time, will continue until June 2024.
EAP counselling support has been extended until December 2023.
More information can be found at:
Workforce wellbeing package – Te Mahau
Early Reading Together®: Applications now open
Reading Together® Te Pānui Ngātahi is a strengths-based series of workshops for parents and whānau to support their children’s reading at home. Families taking part in Reading Together® will also receive sets of books to read with their children and practice the strategies they learned from the workshops.
Interested in offering Early Reading Together® in 2023/24?
Applications for funding are now open. Early learning services will have 10 weeks to deliver the programme if their application is successful.
Email [email protected] to find out more and apply.
Stopping the spread of winter illness
Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand has provided information to help prevent the spread of illnesses within our communities.
To protect you and the tamariki at your centre from the spread of respiratory infections this winter, it is important that you follow infection prevention measures and that you support your staff and the people who enter your facilities to do the same.
The measures can be found at this link:
Infection prevention and control guidance for education sector managers [PDF, 165 KB]
20 Hours ECE subsidy changes
As previously advised, Budget 2023 made changes to the 20 Hours ECE subsidy, to extend the subsidy to include two-year-olds, increase the subsidy rate and introduce new funding conditions.
These changes take effect from 1 March 2024 and the Funding Handbook will be formally updated at that time.
Refresh of Action Plan for Pacific Education released
The refreshed 2023 Action Plan for Pacific Education was released on 12 July.
It maps the Government’s commitment to transforming outcomes, as well as signalling how early learning services can achieve change for Pacific learners and their families.
The 2023 refresh of the Action Plan strengthens our strategic commitment to Pacific languages in education and commits to a further set of Government actions.
Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020-2030 – Ministry of Education
Free flu vaccinations
Help protect your pēpi and tamariki from getting very sick this winter. Flu vaccines are free for pēpi and tamariki aged 6 months to 12 years.
Free flu (influenza) vaccine – Te Whatu Ora
Child car restraints
The Ministry of Education has provided an update on using car restraints when transporting tamariki.
Under New Zealand law, all children under seven years of age must use an approved child restraint appropriate for their age and size. Children aged seven must be secured in a restraint if one is available in the vehicle.
The driver is responsible for ensuring that any child travelling in their vehicle is correctly secured using an appropriate child restraint.
Waka Kotahi NZ has important car restraint guidance material you can share with the whānau at your service:
Requirements for using child restraints in New Zealand – Waka Kotahi