| Abstract: | Update for article in #15 re funding shifts betwen early childhood education programmes.. |
| Keywords: | Preschoolers, government, Early Childhood Development, Policy, Funding, PAFT, HIPPY |
Issue 15 of Father & Child reported on government plans to shift funding from the Parents As First Teachers (PAFT) programme (targeting 0 - 3 year olds) to the Home Instruction Programme for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY!).
Since the original article was printed there have been a few new developments, none of them very reassuring. Questions asked in Parliament by opposition spokesman for education Gerry Brownlee, and Green Party co-leader Rod Donald, have been unable to shed further light upon the long term future of PAFT throughout the country.
However, of greater concern for Christchurch
parents is that Special Education Services is no longer the service
provider for PAFT in this region, causing an indefinite halt to
the programme. As consumers of this service, we have received
no further official word on when the service is likely to resume,
or in what format. Although this situation is not directly linked
to the decision to cut PAFT funding on a nationwide basis, the
end result is that we have not been receiving PAFT services for
several months, despite early reassurances that there would be
no changes to the programme in this region.
It is unfortunate that the short and long term futures of this
excellent programme are far from optimistic. Less reassuring still
is the lack of communication with consumers of the service (ie
the parents) over reasons for the delay in finding a new service
provider. It remains to be seen what format either PAFT or HIPPY
will take either in this region or across the country if and when
a new service provider becomes available. According to Trevor
Mallard's reply to Gerry Brownlee's question in Parliament, "The
future of the PAFT programme will be considered, along with all
other parent support and development programmes, later this year
following the reports of the Early Childhood Strategic Plan Working
Group and the officials' review of parent support and development."
I am sure many families throughout New Zealand are eagerly awaiting
a positive outcome to this report and review.
HIPPY
Takes From PAFT: Original Article in Father&Child
# 15