Hours of participation in early childhood education

Indicator Description

Average number of hours spent in early childhood education services.

What We Have Found

The average number of hours children spend in early childhood education services continues to increase.

Why This Is Important

Measures of participation need to capture information not just on enrolment but on the amount of time spent each week in each early childhood education (ECE) setting.  Time spent in early childhood education enhances future learning.  Total time spent in early childhood education has been found to have a significant association with achievement at age 8 and age 10 (associated with cognitive competence score including literacy, mathematics and logical problem-solving measures) for children in the Competent Children Study (Wylie, C. et al 2001).  Significant associations with mathematics and logical problem-solving continued to age 12 (Wylie, C. et al 2004).

A number of family factors have been identified that influence the amount of time that a child spends in early childhood education.  There are varying levels of evidence about what length of time is best in different circumstances for infants, toddlers or young children in early childhood education.  In addition, the quality of the service and the level of qualifications of the staff are also linked to the experiences and opportunities available to children.

How We Are Going

Since 1996, the number of hours children are enrolled in ECE services has on average increased across all services, aside from playcentres, where the average hours enrolled have remained relatively stable at just over 4 hours per week, and licensed te kohanga reo, where children are estimated to be enrolled for approximately 30 hours per week.  Aside from licensed te kohanga reo, enrolments in home-based networks are for the longest number of hours, slightly more than education and care services.  Both these types of services have also had the largest growth in average hours spent in ECE by service since 1996, with 45% growth for home-based networks and a 43% increase for education and care services.

Average weekly hours attended for children at licensed early childhood education services by type of service: (1996 to 2007)

Over the same time period, there has also been a large increase in the number of enrolments for both these services, with a 69% increase in enrolments for home-based networks (11,073 enrolments in 2007) and a 59% increase for education and care services (91,733 enrolments in 2007).  In contrast, enrolments in other types of services have decreased.

There is insufficient robust research evidence to draw strong conclusions about how long children should attend any particular type of ECE service to benefit from ECE.

Overseas research suggests that children attending over six hours a week of ECE tend to have better outcomes from early years of schooling.

Percentage of roll in early childhood education services, by hours enrolled per week and service type (2007)

In 2007, 81.6% of New Zealand children enrolled in an ECE service attended for at least six hours a week, with 56.2% of children attending between 6 and 24 hours.  Hours spent at some services such as playcentres - where over 75% of enrolled children attend for six hours or less per week - tend to be lower.

Percentage of roll in early childhood education services, by hours enrolled and age (2007)

The proportion of enrolments for six hours or less, or 36 or more hours in ECE was highest for children aged under three.  The proportion of enrolments between 6 and 24 hours was highest for four year-old children.

Where To Find Out More

To obtain information about participation at early childhood education services, consider indicators:

• Prior Participation in early childhood education: new entrants
• Participation in early childhood education

The Ministry of Education has established an Iterative Best Evidence Synthesis Programme to systematically identify, evaluate, analyse, synthesise and make accessible, relevant evidence linked to a range of learner outcomes. Evidence about what works for this indicator can be found in:

• Quality Teaching Early Foundations: Best Evidence Synthesis

References

Ball, C. (1994). Start Right: the Importance of Early Learning. London: Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce.

Feinstein, L., Robertson, D. and Symons, J. (1998). Pre-school Education and Attainment in the NCDS and BCS. Centre for Economic Performance, Human Resources Programme Paper No. 382.

Peisner-Feinberg, E. and Clifford, R., (2002), The children of the cost, quality and outcomes study go to school. North Carolina: National Centre for Early Development and Learning.

Wylie, C., Thompson, J. and Lythe, C. (2001), Competent children at 10: Families, Early Education and Schools. Wellington: Ministry of Education and New Zealand Centre for Education Research.

Wylie, C., Thompson, J., Hodgen, E., Ferral, H., Lythe, C. and Fijn, T. (2004).Competent children at 12. Wellington: Ministry of Education and New Zealand Centre for Education Research.

Wylie, C., Ferral, H., Hodgen, E. and Thompson, J. (2006). Competencies at age 14 and competency development for the Competent Children, Competent Learners study sample. Wellington: Ministry of Education and New Zealand Centre for Education Research.