Early Childhood Education Pushed

Te Runanga 0 Raukawa is joining the crusade to increase participation in early childhood education in the Manawatu, Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast.

At a launch held last week, Moana Jessett from the Ministry of Education outlined" the project which was launched nationally in 2002.

The ministry believes participation in early child­hood education has a dramatic impact on a child's ability to learn arid grow as an individual, with sup­porting research showing that regular participation in quality early childhood education delivers long term educational benefits.

The Promoting Participating in Early Childhood Education Project (PPEP) is an initiative which overcomes barriers to participation.

Barriers can include such costs, a lack of transport and parents not understanding the benefits that early childhood education can bring or families needing advice on how to access a quality early childhood education.

The local team is led by Makareta Moffatt, who said her team of three would be creative in finding solutions as every case would be different.

"It may be a case of creating our own playgroups for those who have an isolation problem, presenting options to those who are unaware of what is avail­able, or co-ordinating transport.

"Basically our service has four main areas. The first is developing our community networks and early childhood education providers; locating famil­ies and advising them on options and benefits; enrolling non-participating children and then sup­porting them in their placement for a minimum of three months," Ms Moffatt said.

The project is designed to be flexible, so that olutions are created which are best suited to each community and family. There are many options available for families such as home-based education, kindergartens, playcentres and Kohanga Reo.