Have your say on early learning reforms

<h2>Consultation began this week on a second round of proposed regulatory reforms &&num;8216&semi;to improve the quality of early learning services for tamariki and wh&amacr;nau&&num;8217&semi;&period;<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>The new proposals&comma; announced by the Ministry of Education&comma; relate to network management and the staffing of services&period; They include&colon;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8211&semi; <strong>Implementing the new network management function&period;<&sol;strong> Several proposals are set out as to how this function might work&period; These include possible National and Regional Statements to set out where new services are needed&comma; and options to fulfil the Crown’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8211&semi; <strong>Regulating for 80&percnt; qualified teachers in teacher-led centre-based and hospital-based services<&sol;strong>&period; The current requirement is for 50 per cent of staff to be ECE qualified&period; There are three options being considered&colon; retaining a high percentage of ECE qualified teachers&semi; matching regulations with the funding rules&semi; and ensuring ECE qualified teachers are always present&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8211&semi; <strong>Strengthening the person responsible requirement for teacher-led and hospital-based services<&sol;strong>&period; These proposals would clarify what is expected of persons responsible and limit the role to experienced teachers with the right skills&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8211&semi; <strong>Strengthening the person responsible requirement for home- services<&sol;strong>&period; These proposals are designed to strengthen curriculum delivery and oversight of educators&comma; and to better support educators’ professional development&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;The Ministry of Education believes that the proposed changes will help create a more fit for purpose&comma; high quality and sustainable early learning network supported by well-qualified&comma; diverse teaching staff and leaders&period; This is an important chance for all people interested in the care&comma; education&comma; and wellbeing of our tamariki in their early years&comma; to have their say on the proposed changes&comma;&&num;8221&semi; said John Brooker&comma; Group Manager&comma; Education System Policy at the MoE&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The consultation runs until 13 October 2021&period; People interested in having a say can go to <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;conversation&period;education&period;govt&period;nz&sol;conversations&sol;early-learning-regulatory-review&sol;" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank">https&colon;&sol;&sol;conversation&period;education&period;govt&period;nz&sol;conversations&sol;early-learning-regulatory-review&sol;<&sol;a> to find out how&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;