Early Childhood Education

Course Components

Early Childhood Services in New Zealand

This module provides a general introduction, history, development and function of the three main categories (centre-based, home-based, or parenting education) of early childhood services in mind, and emphasizes the diversity of these services in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The students are to do a comparative study of these services identifying both their similarities and differences.

The module then moves on to cover organisations relevant to the operation of early childhood services. This includes identifying and describing their structure, purpose, role and their impact on early childhood services.

In closing, students are required to select one early childhood service of their choice and outline its purpose and philosophy linking its role in the community and the range of agencies available to support early childhood education and care.