- Licensing and certification criteria amendments for the Vulnerable Children Act
- Preparing for the new food safety law
- Children’s Workforce Survey – reminder
- Duty holders under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
- Revised playground equipment and surfacing Standard published
Licensing and certification criteria amendments for the Vulnerable Children Act
Following the introduction of the Vulnerable Children Act 2014, we have made amendments to the early childhood education (ECE) licensing and certification criteria for these early learning service types:
- Education and care centres
- Home-based services
- Hospital-based services
- Playgroups.
For education and care centres, home-based services and hospital-based services there is one changed criterion and one new criterion.
| Service Type | Changed Criterion | New Criterion |
|---|---|---|
| Education and care centres | HS31 Child Protection Policy | GMA7A Safety Checking |
| Home-based services | HS28 Child Protection Policy | GMA6A Safety Checking |
| Hospital-based services | HS13 Child Protection Policy | GMA7A Safety Checking |
For playgroups there are two new criteria:
- HS11 Child Protection Policy
- MA6 Safety Checking.
The changes will be notified in the New Zealand Gazette on 25 February 2016 and come into force on 26 February 2016. On this date the criteria and associated guidance as well as errata sheets for each service type will be available under each service type on the Licensing criteria page of the Education website.
Preparing for the new food safety law
The new food safety law – the Food Act 2014 – comes into effect on 1 March 2016. Guidance is now available to help early learning services prepare for the new rules.
All early learning services must ensure the food they serve is safe and suitable for children. Check the ‘food safety guidance for exempt businesses’ guidance to make sure you’re taking the right steps to keep food safe.
The new law applies differently to different early childhood education (ECE) services.
Most education and care centres and kōhanga reo that provide meals and food to children will need to operate under National Programme 2. Other ECE services will be exempt.
Exempt services, ie, those that are not required to operate under a national programme, include:
- Home-based ECE services
- Centre-based ECE services and kōhanga reo who undertake minimal food handling only, eg, provide cut fruit, crackers and spreads, and packet biscuits
- Services preparing food as part of the curriculum, ie, baking and cooking done with children
- Services sharing food donated or brought by families
- Services where children bring a lunch box.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has produced a Factsheet with examples of how the Food Act applies to education providers.
To find out if the type of food provision at your ECE centre or kōhanga reo is subject to National Programme 2, you can use the MPI Where do I fit tool.
If you need to register, in most cases you’ll register with your local council. You’ll also get checked by a food safety ‘verifier’, and will need to have some procedures and keep some records. The ‘early childhood education services guidance’ sets out what you need to do.
From 1 March 2016, all new ECE centres and kōhanga reo that need to must register under the Food Act 2014 once they are licensed to operate.
Existing ECE centres and kōhanga reo that need to must apply to register no later than 31 March 2017 and be meeting the requirements by 30 June 2017.
More information about the Food Act 2014, including the steps to register under a national programme 2, can be found on the MPI website.
If you have any questions or concerns, get in touch with your local council or MPI at info@mpi.govt.nz.
Children’s Workforce Survey – reminder
A better future for vulnerable children is at the heart of both the Children's Action Plan and the Vulnerable Children Act 2014.
The Children’s Workforce Survey is being run by Research NZ on behalf of The Children’s Action Plan Directorate. We have been asked to distribute this on their behalf and we encourage you to participate. The survey will help us understand the current workforce and ensure investments in it are focused in the right areas.
Your response will help us build a connected, competent, children’s workforce that works together to respond effectively when things aren’t right for children.
This short online survey will run until 15 March 2016.
There are 2 questionnaires in this survey which each take around 10 minutes to complete. The links for registration are included below. By registering, you will have the option to save and resume if you’re interrupted while completing the survey.
Please note: all responses to the questionnaire will be completely anonymous.
- The individual questionnaire should be completed by staff and volunteers who plan, manage or deliver services to children, or who plan, manage or deliver services to adults with children and may be in a position to identify child vulnerability. Please access the individual questionnaire here.
- The organisational questionnaire should be completed by one person on behalf of their early childhood education (ECE) service, kōhanga reo or playgroup. This should be the person who is best placed to comment on the ECE service, kōhanga reo or playgroup’s current policies and practices with regard to the children’s workforce. Please access the organisational questionnaire here.
To learn more about The Children’s Action Plan, and other initiatives such as the Core Competencies Framework and the implementation of the Vulnerable Children Act, visit the Children's Action Plan website.
Duty holders under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (the Act) defines specific health and safety duties for all New Zealand businesses and organisations.
The legislation identifies who has responsibilities for health and safety (duty holders). For early childhood education (ECE) services, kōhanga reo and playgroups, who the duty holders are will vary depending on the service’s organisational structure.
Information sheets are available for each service type that explains who the duty holders may be and their responsibilities.
If you have questions about the new legislation you can email them to healthandsafety.info@education.govt.nz.
Other things you can do now to prepare for the introduction of the Act include:
- Reviewing your health and safety policy and procedures
- Identifying all health and safety risks in your ECE service, kōhanga reo or playgroup and take steps to prevent these from causing harm
- Making health and safety part of your workplace culture.
There is a range of information and guidance available on the Education website.
Revised playground equipment and surfacing Standard published
The New Zealand Standard for playground equipment and surfacing has been revised.
The Standard specifies general requirements for playground equipment and surfacing for New Zealand. Its use promotes and encourages playgrounds that are well designed and constructed and well maintained.
Early childhood education (ECE) services and kōhanga reo are not required to comply with the Standard. However, the Ministry encourages services to use it to ensure their play equipment and surfacing will keep children safe.
The new Standard NZS 5828:2015 will supersede NZS 5828:2004 from 9 December 2016. At present you can use either the 2004 or 2015 Standard, as they are both valid until 9 December 2016.
NZS 5828:2015 is available to purchase in either pdf or hard copy from Standards New Zealand.
If you have any queries about the standard, please contact Standards New Zealand.
About the revisions
The latest editions of the international standards that made up NZS 5828:2004 and 2 additional parts have been adopted.
Requirements for playground equipment and surfacing to meet needs specific to the New Zealand environment were also revised, including some clarifications for ECE services and kōhanga reo. Appendix A of the Standard now includes:
- an updated reference to the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008
- a maximum free height of fall of 1200mm for moveable play equipment and 1500mm for all other equipment
- a minimum fall zone of 1500mm for moveable play equipment items with a free fall height of over 600mm and that do not require handrails, guard rails or barriers.
The Supervised Early Childhood Facilities – Playground Equipment and Surfacing Handbook that accompanies the 2004 Standard has not been updated to reflect the 2015 changes. Services can continue to use it as a guide until the new Standard comes into effect in December 2016. Standards New Zealand has no plans to revise the handbook at this time.