Home-based services in New Zealand
are education-oriented, and catered for diversity. The main reason for the
increase in enrollments in home-based services and for the decrease in enrollments
at play-centers (parent co-operative center with parent involvement in running
the program) was the rise in mothers’ participation in paid work. Parents of
infants and toddlers sometimes choose a home-based service, rather than a
center, because they prefer a home environment. The rise in early childhood
services, including home-based services, has been accompanied by research,
lobbying, and government initiatives aimed to enhance the quality of services.
Research studies of family daycare in North
America support the importance of: licensing and regulation of services,
qualifications of providers, and commitment of providers to taking care of
children and to learning about children’s development and care. No formal early
childhood qualification requirements are specified for home-based caregivers.
Changes to qualifications, requiring a Diploma of Teaching (ECE) or equivalent
for coordinators in home-based services, are currently being implemented. Policy
initiatives are also in place to encourage improved outcomes for children
through educators’ self-evaluation.
In order to improve implications for countries where home-based programs are in the hands of individuals, with no administration and funding from government, New Zealand and other countries are responding to research on the educational and social benefits of high quality early childhood education and care services for young children, priorities are to increase participation and to enhance the quality of a diverse range of services. Integral parts of meeting these priorities potentially include developing appropriate administrative infrastructures, regulations, curriculum, and support systems; and fostering quality through education (qualifications of coordinators and caregivers, and ongoing professional development). These requirements are important, to avoid problems of administrative fragmentation, and most importantly to enhance quality.
In order to improve implications for countries where home-based programs are in the hands of individuals, with no administration and funding from government, New Zealand and other countries are responding to research on the educational and social benefits of high quality early childhood education and care services for young children, priorities are to increase participation and to enhance the quality of a diverse range of services. Integral parts of meeting these priorities potentially include developing appropriate administrative infrastructures, regulations, curriculum, and support systems; and fostering quality through education (qualifications of coordinators and caregivers, and ongoing professional development). These requirements are important, to avoid problems of administrative fragmentation, and most importantly to enhance quality.
Reference
Podmore, V. (2002, September). Home-Based Early
Childhood Services: The Case of New Zealand. Retrieved from UNESCO:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001373/137381e.pdf
Angel, I can see why the government would allow home-based care centers as a way of diffusing burden in funding these programs and at the same time slowly establishing mechanisms to ensure quality. more than ten years ago, I attended an early childhood training program in Canada and I discovered the stringent policies they have for people who wold like to set-up a program. Just reading their Nursery Day Act was quite daunting for me realizing all the odds and ends of operating one. However, I guess the more work is entailed, the better assurance of quality you get.
ReplyDeleteAngel, it is interesting to read about how home based centers differ from other centers. We are fortnate in the United States to have so many options for care, expensive though they may be. It is so difficult for parents to leave their children with strangers, even if a center is well regarded. An important goal is to make them feel as comfortable as possible in my opinion!
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