In New Zealand there are many different types of early childhood services. When parents are looking for an early childhood service for their child, they may choose a particular service because of its type. Some services are parent-led and include Playcentres and kōhanga reo. Others are teacher-led services such as kindergartens and education and care services. This monograph is about kindergartens, which provide education and care for children from two or three years to school age.
The Education Review Office (ERO) reviews all licensed early childhood services and reports publicly on the quality of education and care that each service provides. ERO has used the findings from these reviews[1] to write the early childhood monograph series. The purpose of the series is to provide evaluative information about groups of services. Parents can use this information along with the ERO report Early Childhood Education: A Guide for Parents, June 2007,[2] and ERO reports on individual services, to help make decisions about which early childhood service best fits their needs and aspirations for their child.
Reports can be read on the ERO website www.ero.govt.nz and every licensed service holds a copy of its current ERO report.
This report can be found at: Early Childhood Education: A Guide for Parents, June 2007