Resources

This section of the website is designed to provide resource information for teachers and parents:

Grant Funding bodies currently accepting applications Ministry of Education discretionary grants information Active Sport Programme Safe Not sorry - this is a booklet on hiring, or using volunteers in places where there are children. To order one of these go to there the Cripled Society web site under Publications - web address Safe Katz – Safe Kids and teachers Resource Kit – A Health and Safety resource for early childhood centres - for more details copies are available on request from WCCCA

Courses and Events for Teachers

2008 WCCCA Courses:

Please contact Bethany O'Hagan or Di Crosby on 389 3383 to find out more or to register.

2008
March 11 & 12	First Aid 11th Refresher only registration form
March 18th	Grant Applications registration form
March 25th	Finacial Planning registration form
April 2nd	Health and Safety Management series pt 1 of 5 registration form
April 9th	Managing Challenging Behavoir - School Age (OSCAR) registration form
May 6th	Health and Safety Management series pt 2 of 5 registration form
May 13th	Dramatic Play and Stories registration form
May 20th	Families and Communities registration form
May 28th	Different Perspectives in ECE registration form

Learning to Teach – a survey of Provisionally Registered teachers in Aotearoa

This report sets out the findings of a national survey of provisionally registered teachers on the advice and guidance practices and programmes that were experienced during their first two years of teaching. This report completes the second stage of a three stage Learning to Teach research project which has been investigating the quality of advice and guidance accessed by provisionally registered teachers. In summary the report highlights that effective induction programmes are vital to the future success of newly qualified teachers, but also shows that induction programmes in this country are uneven in terms of quality and access. The NZ Teachers’ Council is inviting feedback on the report. The report can be accessed on the Teachers Council website: www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz

 

CP Employers Update 4

Attached are the pay rates agreed on

I am pleased to advise that the CP employers (represented by Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association) and NZEI Te Riu Roa reached agreement across the table last week on a draft settlement. We are still working through the write up of the changes which we expect to finish this week. Once we have signed off on these I will be sending the draft out to each of you for ratification.

The draft settlement - key points

The main changes you will see in the draft settlement are:

NZEI Te Riu Roa's full pay parity claim (as tabled on 25 October and circulated to you in our 3rd CP Employer Update) was accepted
It was agreed to move the current 5 year annual leave entitlement forward to 'after 3 years service with the same employer'
The classification of senior teachers will include a statement that says "all services/centres must employ a teacher on this scale by July 2008" - this allows those services/centres who do not currently employ their most senior teacher on this scale to decide on a transition process and implement this over the next 6 months.
the non-contact time provisions have been amended so that teachers get 12.5% of their employed hours as non-contact time
the tutor teacher allowance has increased to $600 at ratification and $800 in July 2009 ( from which point employees may only receive one allowance regardless of the number of PRTs they supervise)
The section on hours of work and overtime has been rewritten and is (we hope) much clearer about when employers have to give in lieu time or pay overtime rates. In the case of qualified teachers, there is a stepped process of reducing overtime rates as salaries increase.
there is a new clause that prevents employers for 'automatically passing on the benefits of the new agreement to non-union members '
there is a new clause about consultation with employees regarding changes to centre operation
The name of the agreement is changing to the 'Early Childhood Education Collective Agreement of Aotearoa/NZ'
Home based employees have been included in the classifications and scales and receive an on call allowance
There is a new variation clause that enables an individual employer who is unable to meet the costs during the term of the agreement to seek the union's agreement to vary the agreement .

Is government going to fund it?

A large number of employers said 'yes' in our on-line survey to a number of the larger claims but added the qualifier 'as long as government fund this'. Changes to funding rates are usually announced in the government's annual Budget ( next in May 2008). This government remains committed to funding pay parity for ECE teachers, however there is no direct relationship between the costs you incur as a CP employer and the rates paid by government.

There are two main drivers that shape annual changes to the MOE funding rates - the kindergarten teachers' collective employment agreement and annual cost of living data. Once you reach the 100% qualified funding bands the rates you receive are the same as those paid to kindergartens (who are funded to pay their teachers equivalent salaries to primary and secondary teachers). Services who are in the lower funding bands receive some 'parity funding' but less that they will when they reach the 100% band. Remember that the MOE funding is a subsidy only and ECE services are expected to generate a signficant amount of their income from other sources (eg fees, donations).

We are aware that every service has its own cost (and income) structures. Before you vote to ratify this agreement (or not) you will need to work through the costs for your centre and decide whether you can afford the cost increases.

Key points regarding the process are:

All employers must vote 'yes' or 'no' to the proposed settlement
75% of employer parties must vote 'yes' before the draft settlement goes back to the union for ratification by its members
If you vote 'no' you will be contacted by NZEI Te Riu Roa to discuss your decision further, however unless you change your vote to 'yes' you will not be covered by the new agreement.
If you vote 'yes', you will automatically be a party to the new agreement, as long as 75% of employers vote 'yes' and the agreement is ratified by the union
Votes to ratify must be in writing and returned by mail to CP at NZCA, PO Box 12 725 Thorndon, Wellington by 14 December 2007. (You will receive your voting paper shortly.)
Employer feedback so far

Thank you to all of you who fed back to me as we worked through the negotiations. As bargaining agent our role is to take your views to the table. It was your feedback and that of the employers around the table that shaped the way we negotiated and the agreement that we reached. As expected there was a diversity of views amongst such a large group of employers. We did our best to represent all of these but the position of the majority was most influential.

If you have any queries you are welcome to contact me.

Kind regards

Nancy Bell
Chief Executive
Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/New Zealand Childcare Association
PO Box 12725, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
Tel 04 4734672 X822 or 0800CHILDCARE X822 or DDI 04 4716822
Fax 04 473 7295
www.nzca.ac.nz

Kei Tua o te Pae Courses
This year we are running a series of one day workshops throughout New Zealand.  These workshops will provide an opportunity to hear from those who have been involved in the Early Childhood Exemplars Kei Tua o Te Pae, over the past five years. We will share key messages of the resource and teachers’ stories of their assessment journeys. Part of the day will be spent on work that has developed out of learning stories, specifically work that has evolved into ‘planning stories’.

Information on applying for Teacher Registration

Ethics in Practice – NZ Teachers Council workshops on the Code of Ethics

Free workshops on the Code of Ethics are being planned by the Teachers Council. The workshops will provide practice and New Zealand-based scenarios of ethical dilemmas teachers have faced.  Registered teachers who practise in early childhood settings and in primary and secondary schools will be able to attend. A workshop for the Wellington area will be held in February or March next year. If you want to know more, contact: Zenetta.Ganic@teacherscouncil .govt.nz

Review of Satisfactory Teacher Dimensions

Over the last year the NZ Teachers Council has been working on a review of the Satisfactory Teacher Dimensions. A draft of the revised set of dimensions is now ready for the first round of consultation. In July national organizations were asked to provide feedback on the draft. Once this has been collated, a second draft will be drawn up ready for wider consultation with individual teachers and services in Term 1 2008.

 

Article on male teachers in Early Childhood - more than just a hairy chest

Past WCCCA newsletters - April 2005, September 2005 (PDF 4mb)

WELCOME BANNER - The WCCCA S.K.I.P team have also developed an inclusive welcome banner. The banner can be adapted to suit your centres cultural diversity and individuality. WCCCA on 04 385 8116 or wccca@xtra.co.nz to find out more about purchasing a laminated banner at the cost price $40.

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Courses and Events for Parents

Practical Positive Parenting (S.K.I.P based) Resources: 9 Topic Sheets with practical parenting ideas and strategies based on the S.K.I.P messages. Click for more

Do things together that you enjoy...

Let them burn off their energy - lots of physical stuff...

Have as few rules as possible but stick to them...

Try to say lots more positive things than negative things...

If your feeling realy stressed - gert some fresh air, sit in the sun or go for a walk...

Ask them for their ideas...

Let the housework wait if they need you now - give them that time...

Say yes as much as possible...

Try to think of it as a short time in your child's life when they need you a lot...