Government ignores in-home childcare option

The shortage of qualified early childhood teachers is “totally unnecessary” according to the largest provider of in-home care and education PORSE.

PORSE managing director Jenny Yule says the government is refusing to acknowledge the difference more in-home care for the very young would make to the sector.

“We have an untapped workforce sitting at home and a home based early childcare education programme ready to roll, but the moratorium on more teacher training providers is stopping us from utilising this valuable resource, “ Ms Yule said.

“The Government proposes measures to ease teacher shortages but none of these appear to feature encouraging more in-home care, that would also provide work-place training and jobs.”

Ms Yule believes the answer is not about building more centres but looking at what is best for under 2s when childcare is needed by families.

“PORSE In-Home Childcare & Educator Training has developed a practical, sustainable model of training for in-home childcare educators, based on the belief that children under the age of 2 years should not be institutionalised,” Ms Yule said.

“We need to support and encourage families to choose an in-home model of childcare for their under 2s. Research shows that this age group needs 1-1 consistent care in groups that number less than four,” she said.

Latest findings from the Brainwave Trust released last week show that levels of cortisol were higher in children in daycare centres indicating higher stress levels.

“The research from the Trust should be alerting the Education Minister to the importance of caring for more of our young children at home, and leaving the centres to focus on the 3 and 4 year old children” Ms Yule said.

“In-home childcare is an affordable option for parents as it is covered by government subsidies,” she said.

The government needs to accept responsibility for the care of our young children she said.

“New Zealand has the chance to be a world leader by placing more emphasis on caring for our under 2’s at home,” Ms Yule said.

“At PORSE we have the answers to this staff shortage and we urge the Minister to take up our request for an urgent meeting,” she said.