Kia ora koutou
A new University of Otago study has found not enough children under the age of five are protected against measles to prevent a potential national outbreak. This is because the number of children receiving their first measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is declining. Please remind your early learning community that measles is one of the most dangerous and contagious diseases because it spreads easily among people who are not immunised. The best protection against measles is two doses of the MMR vaccine. Read more in today’s bulletin.
Ngā mihi nui
Iona
Protect against measles
There are currently a number of measles cases around the world, and last year there were 13 cases in New Zealand. The best protection against measles is two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Find out if you need a measles vaccine – Te Whatu Ora
Media release about the new University of Otago study:
Declining number of children being vaccinated against measles in Aotearoa – University of Otago
For more information about measles visit:
Updated guidance on cleaning and disinfecting in early childhood education centres
Read our updated licensing criteria guidance for HS1 about cleaning and disinfecting in early childhood education centres:
Licensing criteria for centre-based ECE services
This guidance was developed in consultation with Te Whatu Ora, the National Public Health Service and the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Cultural leadership allowance
We, along with NZEI Te Riu Roa and the Kindergarten Association employers, have agreed the eligibility requirements, matrix for assessment and distribution model for 100 cultural leadership allowances available to kindergarten teachers. Associated funding for this allowance will be paid to Kindergarten Association employers in the upcoming 1 March payment.
Clarification: Pay parity scheme salaries for owner/operators
Owner/operators who are employed to work in their service(s), and who hold a current practising certificate issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, are required to pay themselves at the appropriate rate on the minimum salary scale that they have attested to.
See the ‘all employed’ section in chapter 3-B-2 of the ECE Funding Handbook:
ECE Funding Handbook: 3-B-2 Education and care services
If owner/operators are unsure of the definition of employed, they may wish to seek employment relations advice. If you have any queries, contact [email protected].
Proposed certification changes for person responsible
The Associate Minister has heard the concerns raised by the sector about the changes to the person responsible (PR) requirements coming into effect in August 2024 that will require the PR to hold a full practising certificate. He has asked officials to review these changes as a priority.
Clarifying person responsible requirements for teacher-led services
From 26 February, the clarifications provided in the regulations on the duties of person responsible in centre-based, hospital-based and home-based early childhood services (Reg 60, 61 and 62) came into effect.
We acknowledge that we are working in an environment where there is a level of uncertainty regarding future regulatory change. There is currently no change to the way we assess person responsible requirements.
Additional requirements for teacher-led services
From 26 February, the following requirements to person responsible for teacher-led early learning services take effect:
Persons responsible in teacher-led centre-based services must hold an accredited first-aid qualification (Schedule 1).
A person responsible for a licensed home-based service must not act as person responsible (a) for more than one (1) licensed early childhood service at the same time and (b) for more than two (2) licensed early childhood services in any month (Reg 62(2)).
You will find updated information on the above on our website here:
Increase in home-based service size
From 26 February, home-based providers can apply using an EC8 application form to increase the maximum licence number from 80 to 100 (Schedule 3).
Updated early learning licensing application forms available Monday
As advised in the previous bulletin, our licensing application forms will be updated on Monday, 4 March. You will be able to access the updated forms through the following links:
EC1: Start a centre-based service [PDF, 393 KB]
EC1: Start a home-based service [326 KB]
Chapter 8: Change your service details – Ministry of Education
To read about the changes to this form, visit:
Use of Bonjela
We have received a few enquiries regarding the use of Bonjela in early learning settings so we thought it would be helpful to clarify.
In 2023, Medsafe reclassified products containing choline salicylate, including Bonjela ‘analgesics mouth ulcer gel’, as a pharmacy only medicine for infants aged under 18 months. This is because choline salicylate can cause serious illness in infants when they receive a larger than recommended dose.
The non-medicated Bonjela branded product, Bonjela ‘soothing teething gel’, often provided by parents for their child when they are teething does not contain choline salicylate so it is not impacted by this change.
As a reminder, medicines that are orally administered should be treated as category (ii) and (iii) medicine – this includes any Bonjela product.
Starting Strong survey – invitation to participate
The Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) Starting Strong is running this year and around 400 early learning services will be invited to participate. Invitations will go out from now and staff will be asked to complete an anonymous survey online between June and August. TALIS Starting Strong does not assess or survey children.
Starting Strong aims to improve understanding of the profession by providing an opportunity for kaiako and leaders to contribute their knowledge and experiences of early learning. Results from the survey will be published in late 2025.
To read more about TALIS Starting Strong, visit:
TALIS Starting Strong – Education Counts
Any questions, email [email protected] or phone 0800 823 328.
