Early Childhood teachers educate and care for young children in Early Childhood Education (ECE) services such as Kindergartens, Kōhanga Reo or Education and Care Centres.
Kōhanga Reo Kaiako also helps children learn te reo Māori and tikanga Māori (culture and customs).
The salary of Early Childhood teachers varies, depending on where they work, their qualifications and their experience.
Kindergarten Teachers
The Pay for Early Childhood teachers who work at Kindergartens (state-run Early Childhood Centres) varies depending on qualifications and experience.
Those with a Diploma in Early Childhood Teaching, start with an annual salary of $35,000. Those with a three-year degree, can expect to earn about $46,000, and can reach a maximum of about $69,000.
Teachers with a four-year degree, start at $50,000, and can reach a maximum of around $73,000 after seven years.
Head teachers at Kindergartens earn around $75,000.
Source: Ministry of Education, ‘Kindergarten Teachers, Head Teachers and Senior Teachers’ Collective Agreement, 2013 to 2016.
ECE and Education Centre Teachers
The salary of Early Childhood teachers working in private or independent education and care centres is often negotiated individually with each teacher and hence can vary greatly.
There may be a collective pay agreement involving more than 145 private early childhood centres, but this is only available to members and centres who are party to this agreement.
Kōhanga Reo Kaiako
The Kōhanga Reo National Trust has advised teachers to establish direct contact with its officials. Please visit the Education Ministry website (www.minedu.govt.nz)
ECE Teachers
ECE teachers may do some or all of the following: (a) educate and care for babies and children, working one to one or in groups (b) plan daily programmes, learning experiences and routines for children (c) make or adapt learning resources (d) implement Te Whāriki, the Early Childhood curriculum (e) assess and record the learning and development of each child (f) discuss children’s progress with their parents or caregivers, whānau and other education professionals (g) run workshops for parents, caregivers and whānau (i) attend social gatherings and hui and (j) prepare budgets, order supplies, and help manage the centre.
Kōhanga Reo Kaiako must ensure the education and care they provide to children benefits children’s te reo and tikanga Māori (Māori customs and culture) development.
Skills and Knowledge
Early Childhood teachers need to have good teaching skills, and knowledge of different teaching strategies and learning styles; knowledge of Te Whāriki, the ECE curriculum; knowledge of child learning and development; and of early literacy and numeracy.
Kōhanga Reo Kaiako should also be competent in te reo Māori, and knowledgeable about tikanga Māori.
Working conditions
Early Childhood teachers work 35 to 40 hours a week, depending on whether they are employed in a Kindergarten, Child Care Centre or Kōhanga Reo.
They work indoors and outdoors at Early Childhood Services
They may take children on local trips to places such as Marae, Museums and playgrounds.
Entry requirements
To become a qualified early childhood teacher you need one of the following: (a) Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) (b) Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) and (c) Diploma of Teaching (ECE).
You should also be registered with the New Zealand Teachers Council.
To become a qualified Kohanga Reo Kaiako, you need a Tino Rangatiratanga Whakapakari Tohu (Kohanga Reo teaching qualification) and Bachelor of Education (Whakaako) Early Childhood Education Whāriki Papatipu from Victoria University in Wellington.
To enter the Tino Rangatiratanga Whakapakari Tohu, you need the National Certificate in Reo Māori (Level 4) or equivalent. The Bachelor of Education qualification is the only Kōhanga Reo teaching qualification that leads to registration by the New Zealand Teachers Council.
Some Scholarships
The Education Ministry offers a number of scholarships for people to train as early childhood teachers.
Please visit www.teachnz.govt.nz for more information.
Secondary Education
A tertiary entrance qualification is needed to enter university and teacher training. However, some diploma programmes have slightly lower entry requirements.
Additional requirements for specialist roles such as Special Education Teacher: Following two years of teaching to gain full teacher registration, and preferably further experience teaching pre-school children, you must complete a graduate or postgraduate qualification in specialist teaching, specialising in early intervention.
Personal requirements
EC teachers should be (a) good at communicating and relating to children and adults from a range of cultures (b) good at planning and organising skills at problem-solving, and able to make quick decisions (c) understanding and patient (d) firm but fair (e) creative, imaginative and resourceful and (f) committed to the Kōhanga Reo Kaupapa, if working in a Kōhanga Reo.
For more information, please call
Teach NZ: 0800-165225. Email: teachnz.admin@minedu.govt.nz
Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/New Zealand Childcare Association: 0800-244532 Email: enrol@nzca.ac.nz
Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand: 0800-336-612; Email: eo@montessori.org.nz
Job Opportunities
The chances of getting a job as an ECE teacher are good, particularly for speakers of Māori or Pasifika languages.
The demand for ECE teachers is rising steadily. According to Business, Innovation and Employment Ministry estimates, the number of ECE teachers increased by 15% between 2010 and 2012.
This steady growth is likely to continue, as the Government has set a target of 98% of new school entrants having participated in early childhood education by 2015.
Source: Career New Zealand
