Early Years Education

The Education Institute of the Supreme Education Council has issued an Early Years Education guide containing information on the early years foundation curriculum, good practice guide and guidelines for health and safety standards in Early Years Programmes in the independent schools. The guide offers all those involved in teaching, administering and providing education for young learners information on how to improve early years education for 3 to 6 year olds in the independent schools.

The Education Institute recently implemented a strategic plan aimed at expanding opportunities for young learners that includes the construction of kindergarten buildings specifically designed for young children’s unique learning and development needs. Four such kindergartens opened their doors in September 2008. In total, there are plans for the construction of up to 30 new kindergarten buildings, which will be assigned to primary school principals and operators. Many of these buildings will be ready for occupancy at the beginning of the 2009 school year. The SEC has proposed early learning buildings for all independent primary schools by 2012.

The design of the buildings promotes creativity, play and learning. In addition to administrative offices and a professional resource area for teachers, each building contains six or twelve classrooms, a library, computer lab, multi-purpose room, music room and two large indoor recreation areas with natural lighting throughout.

The Early years booklet has been prepared by a team of experts from Cognition Consulting New Zealand, an organization contracted by the Education Institute.