Our Mission

Quality early childhood education

Who are we

We are the leading provider of new knowledge, fresh thinking and best practice for early childhood care and education. Achieving increasingly higher standards of care for the children of Aotearoa is our only focus.

Our vision

That all children in Aotearoa/New Zealand can access early childhood services that provide high quality learning opportunities, that complement and support their families' lives and enable them to know and embrace the cultural heritage of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Our guiding beliefs

  • Every child in New Zealand has the right to high quality education and care that complements and supports their family’s life.
  • Every child in New Zealand has the right to know and enjoy the dual cultural heritage of Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners along with his/her own cultural heritage.
  • Teachers in early childhood settings should be well qualified and hold the same status as teachers in the compulsory sector.
  • People working in early childhood services need access to high quality teacher education, advice, information, resources and ‘voice’ in decision making that affects young children and their families.

Our key documents