{{Short description|Early childhood organization in New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox organization |name = Playcentre Aotearoa |native_name = Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi |native_name_lang = mi |logo = Playcentre_Aotearoa_Logo.svg |image = |image_border = |image_size = |caption = |map = |map_size = |map_caption = |abbreviation = Playcentre |formation = 1941 |type = Cooperative<ref name=manning-thesis>{{cite thesis|title=Playcentre parents-as-educators: Links between background experiences and teaching practice|access-date=2024-01-18|url=http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10063/291/thesis.pdf?sequence=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116195831/https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en|archive-date=2024-01-16|type=thesis|degree=Masters|first=Suzanne|last=Manning|date=2008|publisher=Victoria University of Wellington}}</ref> charitable trust<ref name=playcentreorg>{{citation|title=Organisation details|language=en-NZ|work=Playcentre|date=2019-09-02|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/resource-centre/organisation-info/organisation-details/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928100733/https://www.playcentre.org.nz/resource-centre/organisation-info/organisation-details/|archive-date=2023-09-28}}</ref> |status = |purpose = High quality early childhood education - a co-operative whānau/family experience |headquarters = |location = New Zealand |region_served = New Zealand |num_members = Parents of children attending |language = |leader_title = |leader_name = |main_organ = |parent_organization = |affiliations = |budget = |website = http://www.playcentre.org.nz |remarks = |registration_id = CC37155<ref name=charityregister>{{citation|title=Charities Services: Playcentre Aotearoa|language=en|work=Charities Services|publisher=Government of New Zealand|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=4a8a545c-1d2e-e811-8102-00155d6b7730&searchId=91c6ecc3-74dd-4443-8989-41226c2e817e}}</ref> |num_volunteers = 13503<ref name=2022report>{{cite report|title=Annual Return Summary: Playcentre Aotearoa 2022|publisher=Government of New Zealand|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://register.charities.govt.nz/Document/DownloadPdf?pdfType=AnnualReturnSummary&relatedId=3538b067-9eb0-ed11-bb1c-000d3acc4199&isPublic=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106075842/https://register.charities.govt.nz/Document/DownloadPdf?pdfType=AnnualReturnSummary&relatedId=3538b067-9eb0-ed11-bb1c-000d3acc4199&isPublic=true|archive-date=2024-01-06|date=August 2022}}</ref> |num_volunteers_year = 2022 |num_staff = 561<ref name=2022report/> |num_staff_year = 2022 }}
'''Playcentre Aotearoa''' is an early childhood education and parent cooperative organisation which operates parent-led early childhood education centres<ref name=manning-thesis/> throughout New Zealand. While the concept originated in New Zealand,<ref name=playcentrehistory>{{citation|title=History|language=en-NZ|work=Playcentre|date=2019-01-18|access-date=2024-01-17|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/about/history/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026091355/https://www.playcentre.org.nz/about/history/|archive-date=2023-10-26}}</ref> it is now also established in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://playcentre.org.nz/news.php?a=118&id=&assocID=&national= |title=Playcentre News - Early Childhood News |website=playcentre.org.nz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514224729/http://playcentre.org.nz/news.php?a=118&id=&assocID=&national= |archive-date=2010-05-14}}</ref><ref name=press-japan>{{citation|title=Japan finds Kiwi play appealing|work=The Press |publisher=Stuff|publication-place=Christchurch|first=John|last=Hartevelt|date=2009-10-21|access-date=2024-01-18|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2984290/Japan-finds-Kiwi-play-appealing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022073929/http://www.stuff.co.nz:80/the-press/news/2984290/Japan-finds-Kiwi-play-appealing|archive-date=2009-10-22}}</ref>
Their mission is stated as "Whānau Tupu Ngātahi - Families growing together."
==History and spread== Before 1941 the prevailing philosophy in New Zealand child education was that education did not really start until children entered the formal, disciplinarian, school system.<ref name="Pam Cubey">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mMBt6f4G9agC&q=karori+playcentre+history&pg=PA144|title=Young Children Learning Through Schemas: Deepening the dialogue about learning in the home and in the nursery|author=Katey Mairs, and The Pen Green Team|editor=Cath Arnold|publisher=Routledge|year=2013|pages=Chapter 8|isbn=9781136241291}}</ref>
The early beginnings of Playcentre were in Wellington in 1941.<ref name=nzhistory>{{citation|title=Playcentre Aotearoa|language=en|work=New Zealand History|access-date=2024-01-17|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/women-together/playcentre-aotearoa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609154227/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/women-together/playcentre-aotearoa|archive-date=2023-06-09|publisher=Ministry for Culture & Heritage}}</ref><ref name=playcentrehistory/> Mothers Joan Wood, Inge Smithells and Beatrice Beeby opened "nursery play centres" that aimed to support mothers and provide a social space for their children. Other centres soon opened in Christchurch and Auckland, leading to the formation of the New Zealand Federation of Nursery Play Centre Associations in 1948.<ref name=nzhistory/> Educationist Gwen Somerset became the first president of the association. She had already been involved with a community centre in Feilding that included classes on child development and parenting, as well as a cooperative playgroup,<ref name=nzhistory/> so she was a good fit to lead the growing movement.
From the start each Playcentre was a community-driven initiative. Centres were organised and run by volunteer parents utilising existing premises (e.g. church or community halls), with parents themselves acting as teachers and collective caregivers.<ref name=playcentrehistory/> This allowed the movement to easily spread, including to rural areas where other early childcare options were unavailable or impractical.<ref name="Pam Cubey" />
In 1951 Playcentre began an adult education programme to train volunteer parents in child development and education.<ref name=playcentrehistory/>
The Playcentre model has been copied by groups in other countries, including the Japan Playcentre Association, which was founded in 1999.<ref>{{citation|title=日本プレイセンター協会 公式ホームページ|trans-title=Japan Playcentre Association Official Homepage|language=ja|work=playcentre.jp|access-date=2024-01-18|url=https://playcentre.jp/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630025738/https://www.playcentre.jp/|archive-date=2023-06-30}}</ref><ref name=press-japan/>
==Philosophy and practice== Playcentre was instrumental in introducing the concepts of learning through play to the early childhood setting in New Zealand. This philosophy has since been adopted throughout all New Zealand early childhood education centres through the New Zealand national curriculum for early childhood education, Te Whāriki.<ref>{{citation|title=Te Whāriki - Early childhood curriculum|publisher=Ministry of Education, Government of New Zealand|isbn=9780478169270|date=2017|url=https://www.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Early-Childhood/ELS-Te-Whariki-Early-Childhood-Curriculum-ENG-Web.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030090418/https://www.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Early-Childhood/ELS-Te-Whariki-Early-Childhood-Curriculum-ENG-Web.pdf|archive-date=2023-10-30}}</ref>
The organisation believes that parents are the first and best educators of their children and children learn best when they initiate their learning through play (child-initiated play). Within the centres children and adults learn alongside each other, in agreement with the socio-cultural model of learning which posits that a child learns best when surrounded by trusted members of their community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playcentre.org.nz/philosophy.php |title=Playcentre - Philosophy |website=www.playcentre.org.nz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040805205658/http://www.playcentre.org.nz/philosophy.php |archive-date=2004-08-05}}</ref>
Children attend half day sessions, no more than 5 times a week. Children from 0 to 6 years,<ref name=manning-thesis/> normally in mixed age groups,<ref name=manning-thesis/> attend sessions run by parents. Groups are typically no larger than 30 children.<ref name=manning-thesis/> As a cooperative, parent volunteers decide how their centre will run and are responsible for the education of their children.
Playcentre offers dedicated sessions for babies under 1 year old, called Space. Space is an acronym for "Supporting Parents Alongside Children's Education".<ref name=manning-thesis/> In addition to childcare, sessions are designed to create connections between new parents and to provide a place for new parents to discuss parenting.<ref>{{citation|title=Space at Playcentre|language=en-NZ|work=Playcentre|date=2019-04-01|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/whatwedo/space-at-playcentre/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926113036/https://www.playcentre.org.nz/whatwedo/space-at-playcentre/|archive-date=2023-09-26}}</ref>
==Structure and regulations== Since 2019, Playcentre Aotearoa is a charitable trust.<ref name=playcentreorg/> Previously every centre was part of one of 33 regional associations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playcentre.org.nz/assoc.php |title=Playcentre - Associations |website=www.playcentre.org.nz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040805165306/http://www.playcentre.org.nz/assoc.php |archive-date=2004-08-05}}</ref> Each association was supported by the national body, The New Zealand Playcentre Federation. All of these entities were amalgamated in 2019.<ref name=playcentreorg/> In 2022 Playcentres voted at a special general meeting to replace the previous constitution with a new Deed of Charitable Trust.<ref>{{citation|title=SGM & AGM 2022: A number of special moments|work=Playcentre Bulletin|access-date=2024-01-06|date=December 2022|url=https://email.mogul.co.nz/t/ViewEmail/r/7ABB54CD5B7274E32540EF23F30FEDED?alternativeLink=True|publisher=Playcentre}}</ref> This change will centralise the financial operations of Playcentre in the trust, taking some administrative burden off individual centres and allow Playcentre to remain compliant with Ministry of Education guidelines.<ref>{{citation|title=Trustee Board Update – August 2022|language=en-NZ|work=Playcentre Bulletin|publisher=Playcentre|date=2022-08-01|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/member_post/trustee-board-update-august-2022/}}</ref>
Playcentres are chartered early childhood education providers with the New Zealand Ministry of Education. Each Playcentre is subject to audits by the Education Review Office to confirm the quality of Playcentre's programmes.<ref>{{citation|title=ERO reviews | Playcentre|language=en-NZ|work=Playcentre|date=2020-01-22|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/whatwedo/ero-reviews/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026074944/https://www.playcentre.org.nz/whatwedo/ero-reviews/|archive-date=2023-10-26}}</ref>
Playcentres are partially funded by the Ministry of Education<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bulk-Funding.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523021134/https://www.playcentre.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bulk-Funding.pdf|archive-date=2022-05-23|title=Bulk Funding|publisher=Playcentre|date=2021}}</ref> under the Education and Training Act 2020.<ref>{{citation|title=Education and Training Act 2020 No 38 (as at 24 August 2023), Public Act 548 Funding of certain early childhood services and certified playgroups|language=en|work=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office|date=2023-09-15|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/0038/latest/LMS267825.html?search=ta_act_E_ac%40ainf%40anif_an%40bn%40rn_25_a&p=1}}</ref> Government funding is on a per-session basis, and is determined by the number and ages of children, and the number of qualified supervising adults present.<ref>{{citation|title=ECE Funding Handbook: Appendix 1|language=en|work=Education in New Zealand|publisher=Ministry of Education|date=2015-05-25|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/funding-and-data/funding-handbooks/ece-funding-handbook/appendix-one/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003172524/https://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/funding-and-data/funding-handbooks/ece-funding-handbook/appendix-one/|archive-date=2023-10-03}}</ref> Playcentres typically also rely on additional community grants.<ref>{{citation|title=Grants update – November 2023|language=en-NZ|work=Playcentre|date=2023-11-20|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/member_post/grants-update-november-2023/}}</ref>
Since 2000, government policy has trended towards a focus on a qualified teacher-led curriculum for ECE providers to be funded. This conflicts with the principle of parent-led co-operative education — where most parents are not fully trained teachers — resulting in parent-led ECE services like Playcentre being "marginalised".<ref>{{citation|title=Struggling to maintain diversity: The marginalisation of Playcentre in government early childhood education and care policy|first=Suzanne|last=Manning|journal=New Zealand Annual Review of Education|date=2018-12-13|volume=23|pages=96–110|doi=10.26686/nzaroe.v23i0.5286|url=https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/nzaroe/article/view/5286/4643|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228145010/https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/nzaroe/article/download/5286/4643/7321|archive-date=2023-02-28|doi-access=free}}</ref> To solve this, many Playcentres have chosen to employ one or more ''facilitators'' in their centre, who is employed by the trust<ref name=manning-thesis/> and is a qualified ECE teacher, often through Playcentre's own education system. The facilitator supports the parents to organise the ECE aspects of sessions, while centre advisors help ensure compliance with Ministry of Education requirements for curriculum, supervision and government funding.<ref>{{citation|title=Session Facilitator - Job Description|publisher=Playcentre Aotearoa|date=November 2021|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/PD-Session-Facilitator-Nov-21.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128180856/https://www.playcentre.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/PD-Session-Facilitator-Nov-21.pdf|archive-date=2022-11-28}}</ref>
==Adult education programme== Playcentre Education offers the NZQA Level 4 Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care.<ref>{{citation|title=What we offer|language=en-NZ|work=Playcentre|date=2021-10-27|access-date=2024-01-06|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/learnwithus/what-we-offer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026072527/https://www.playcentre.org.nz/learnwithus/what-we-offer/|archive-date=2023-10-26}}</ref> The course assists parents in developing their parenting skills and their ability to facilitate early childhood education in a playcentre setting. The programme also helps members to learn how to work in a cooperative as well as being the training ground for Playcentre adult educators. The adult education programme is delivered at no cost to the learner.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.playcentre.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Playcentre-Education-Fact-Sheet-Dec-2022.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026080107/https://www.playcentre.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Playcentre-Education-Fact-Sheet-Dec-2022.pdf|archive-date=2023-10-26|title=Playcentre Education Fact Sheet|work=Playcentre Education|date=December 2022}}</ref>
==Notable Playcentre people== Famous Playcentre alumni include New Zealand's first female prime minister, the Rt. Hon. Jenny Shipley,<ref>Laurenson, P and Wylie, L.(2000) Millennium Special Edition: Playcentre People. Playcentre Journal, 109, 17</ref> New Zealand's first female Governor General, Dame Catherine Tizard,<ref>Stover, Sue (Ed). (2003). (Revised edition). Good clean fun: New Zealand’s Playcentre movement. Auckland: New Zealand Playcentre Federation. {{ISBN|0-908609-46-9}} pp 99, 240.</ref> the Olympic gold medallists, Caroline Evers-Swindell and Georgina Evers-Swindell, Colin Simon <ref>Stover, Sue (Ed).(1998). Good clean fun: New Zealand’s Playcentre movement. Auckland: New Zealand Playcentre Federation. {{ISBN|0-908609-46-9}} pp 122.</ref> (designer of the Christchurch Commonwealth Games 1974 games – Christchurch, New Zealand symbol and the Playcentre Logo), and Valerie Burns (Companion of the Queen's Service Order <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/2487912 |title=Shaped the course of early childhood education |author=Johnson, Alexandra |date=10 June 2009 |work=The Dominion Post |accessdate=3 November 2011}}</ref>).
==Further reading== *Laurenson, P and Wylie, L.(2000) Millennium Special Edition: Playcentre People. Playcentre Journal, 109, pp17–14 *Stover, Sue (Ed). (2003). (Revised edition). Good clean fun: New Zealand’s playcentre movement. Auckland: New Zealand Playcentre Federation. {{ISBN|0-908609-46-9}} pp 99, 240. *Densem, A. & Chapman, B. (2000). Learning together: The Playcentre Way. Auckland: New Zealand Playcentre Federation. {{ISBN|0-908609-36-1}} p35
==External links== *[http://www.playcentre.org.nz/ Playcentre Aotearoa official website] *[https://playcentre.jp Japan Playcentre Association official website (in Japanese)]
==References== {{reflist|2}}
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Category:Education in New Zealand Category:Early childhood education in New Zealand Category:Early childhood educational organizations Category:Charities based in New Zealand