Concerns Raised Over Government’s Early Childhood Education Funding Review

The Government has announced a funding review of early childhood education, which has drawn significant criticism from many within the sector—particularly around concerns for quality.

In launching the Ministerial Advisory Group, chaired by Linda Meade (founder of the private early childhood centre Daisies), Minister David Seymour acknowledged that the review may involve trade-offs between cost and quality. He stated:

“The balance between quality and affordability for services and parents/caregivers [is] reflected in the funding system, including its contribution to an appropriate mix of minimum standards and quality inputs, such as adult-to-child ratios or proportions of qualified teachers.”

 Read the official announcement from Minister David Seymour
👉 More about the review from RNZ

Critics have raised concerns about the composition of the advisory group, noting the lack of representation from qualified early childhood teachers or parent advocacy groups, while private providers appear to be strongly represented. You can read reactions from across the sector below:

• NZEI Te Riu Roa’s response
• Office of Early Childhood Education’s reaction
• Statement from the Green Party