Information supplied from Ministry of Education on 23 August 2021.
COVID-19 Early Learning update |
Message from the Secretary for EducationNgā mihi o te pō A special thanks for the leadership of the early learning services and schools directly affected by Delta cases. I know there are delays for testing and Health (whose workforce is also affected) is working to ramp up testing services. The sites they select for testing need to be very large areas, sufficient for significant numbers of cars and distancing. They tend toward setting up sites where it is possible to scale up too. Ngā mihi maioha, |
In today’s bulletin:
|
Childcare for workers in Alert Level 4 businesses and servicesAs you are aware the Government has contracted approved licensed home-based education and care providers across the country to provide childcare to workers in Alert Level 4 businesses and services.
The preference remains that Alert Level 4 workers make their own private arrangements where they are able to do so.
Educational facilities, including schools, kura, early childhood education businesses or services etc, and their teachers are not alert level 4 businesses and service in Schedule 2 of the COVID 19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order (No 9) 2021 (the Order), so are not eligible for the scheme. The exception being home-based services contracted by the Ministry to provide emergency childcare. Please see our website for more information including frequently asked questions and answers about the scheme, its conditions and availability. Childcare for Workers of Alert Level 4 Business or Services Scheme |
Play areas in early learning servicesWe’ve had reports from different parts of the country that children and young people have been gathering at schools and using school play equipment. While this may be less likely to happen at Early Learning Services, it should be clear that at Alert Level 4 all school and early learning sites are closed, including outdoor play areas. |
Access to food or essential itemsEveryone needs food and essential items (such as medicine) through all COVID-19 alert levels. We encourage you to let your communities know they don’t need to go without.
Information about food provision and distribution for providers. |
Useful informationInformation for migrant communities: Golden rules for Alert Level 4 The Ministry for Ethnic Communities | Te Tari Mātāwaka has just released some videos in different languages about the ‘Golden rules for Level 4’. Please feel free to share this link to the videos with your networks. Information from the Ministry of Social Development The Ministry of Social Development has asked us to pass on the assurance that during COVID-19 Alert Level 4, payments will continue for Early Childcare Education providers. They will continue to stay connected with you over the weeks ahead. Families can email: [email protected] if you have any questions, and providers contact their Provider Line on 0800 776 843 or email [email protected].
How to spot bad information
“Good information put out to help you make an informed choice won’t make you feel scared or angry. It’ll make you feel empowered.” |
Distance learning at Alert Level 4Early learning services across the country have been doing a great job at staying connected with children and their whānau. We know from past experience that some communities may struggle to access resources at home during COVID Alert 4 and many services are already reaching out to these whānau with online or other resources. The Ministry has a limited number of early learning resource kits initially available to Auckland services that our regional office team will contact. Services that take delivery of these packs would also need to arrange distribution under COVID 4 contactless conditions to whānau. We will be commencing live education television broadcasting this week on both TVNZ and Māori TV. We will advise when you can expect the first shows to air in tomorrow’s Bulletin. Available resources The Learning from Home website has print-friendly, online resources that services can use to create tailored learning packs for their ākonga. You can also direct parents and whānau to these resources online. These resources are available on the supporting learning from home page on Learning from Home. Home Learning TV can be accessed on demand here or via the TVNZ App on a device (mobile phone, smart tv or tablet). |