Field: Education

Change report for the review of New Zealand Early Childhood Education and Care (ECE) Qualifications

Reviewed qualifications

[Ref]	Version	Qualification title	Level	Credits
2848	1	New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Care (Level 2)	2	40
2849	1	New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3)	3	60
2850	1	New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4)	4	60
2851	1	New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5)	5	120
2852	1	New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6)	6	120

Review information

Qualification Developer	NZQA Qualifications Services on behalf of and in collaboration with the sector
Reason for the review	Scheduled 5-year review
Review date	31 December 2020
Outcome date	April 2021
Next review date	April 2026

Summary of review and consultation process

This review of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) qualifications at Levels 2-6 has been led by the qualification developer, NZQA Qualifications Services on behalf of and in collaboration with the sector. The strategic oversight was provided by the Governance Group, and the working groups undertook the detailed review of the qualifications.

At all significant stages, stakeholders were kept informed and invited to contribute ideas, comment, and feedback, and to confirm the ongoing need for the ECE qualifications.  This included feedback to the qualification developer at consistency review events, pre-review input/feedback, invitations to be involved in the Governance and Working groups, feedback and survey responses regarding changes in the sector and general intent of the review.  A full consultation on the reviewed draft qualifications in September 2020 indicated strong support for the reviewed qualifications. 

The review webpage contains further background on the review and includes the review plan, pathways map, consultation document, Governance and working group brief, available from: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/qualifications/early-childhood-education-qualifications/.

Based on feedback from an initial consultation process, and recommendations from stakeholders and specialist working groups, a number of changes to the existing suite of qualifications were proposed and consulted on. 

The existing New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Care (Level 2) (40 credits) [Ref: 2848] qualification was replaced with a new 60-credit qualification, the New Zealand Certificate in Early Learning and Care (Level 2) [Ref: 4338].

The qualifications were updated to better match current sector practice and needs and align with the current NZQA listing requirements.

A new qualification NZQF Certificate in Early Childhood Education (Level 4) with an optional strand in Practice-based Care (90-120 credits) [Ref: 4348] was developed for exclusive delivery outside of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Consultation with stakeholders confirmed the proposed changes and that the new and reviewed qualifications were fit for purpose.

Main changes resulting from the review

Changes made to all qualifications:

· The number of graduate profile outcomes (GPOs) and the conditions for GPOs were consolidated to enable greater flexibility for programme development.  GPOs were adjusted to incorporate conditions where possible, renumbered and credit allocations were rounded to multiples of five.

· Strategic purpose statements and  education pathways were amended to include contribution to community outcomes.

· Qualification specifications were updated to use standardised statements for qualification award, consistency requirements, minimum standard of achievement and other requirements (including legislation and relevant codes), in line with current listing requirements. 

· General conditions for programmes were updated to use standardised statements.   

Main changes made to each qualification:

New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Care (Level 2) [Ref: 2848]

· This qualification was designated to expire and will be replaced by the New Zealand Certificate in Early Learning and Care (Level 2) [Ref: 4338].

· The replacement qualification has adjusted emphasis and includes the addition of a new outcome 1 (15 credits), with changes to the credits and focus of other outcomes.

New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3) [Ref: 2849]

· Changing the title to include introductory skills.

· Including an option for a simulated environment and/or a recognised early childhood education (ECE) service   for the setting for Level 3 practical experience requirements.

· Reducing credits for outcome 5 (was outcome 8) and outcome 6, and increasing credits for outcomes 3, 6 and 7. 

· Placing a stronger focus on care practices in outcome 2 and embedding regulatory requirements from outcome 6.   

· Removal of outcome 5, with intent and credits merged into a new outcome 4, with strengthened focus on self, ethics and professional behaviours in outcome 4.

New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4) [Ref: 2850]

· Noted that Level 4 is the minimum qualification requirement for licensed home-based educators.

· Combining outcomes 3 and 6’s intent and credits to a new outcome 3, with care, environment, health and safety, legislative and regulatory merged, and now 15 credits.

· Strengthening of outcome 5 and increase from 3 to 5 credits.

New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) [Ref: 2851]

· Reordering of outcomes - outcome 7 now outcome 1, outcome 9 now outcome 7; reducing credits for outcome 3 (was outcome 2) from 22 to 20 credits.

· Shift of focus for outcome 2 (was outcome 1) to include history aspects from outcome 8, and increased from 20 to 25 credits; shift of focus and credits for outcome 8 to an emerging personal philosophy of practice, and decreased from 8 to 5 credits; shift of focus to the practitioner for outcome 6 (was outcome 5) to strengthen personal wellbeing and professional and reflective practice, increased from 8 to 10 credits.   

· Shift of focus for outcome 4 (was outcome 3 environment and part outcome 6) with legislative, regulatory and UNCROC moved from outcome 6 to 4, conditions embedded in the outcome, and increased from 15 to 20 credits.  Removal of old outcome 6, with intent moved to outcome 4.

New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6) [Ref: 2852]

· Deleting outcome 8, intent and 10 credits redistributed to reviewed outcomes 2 and 4.

· Shift of focus for outcome 4 (was outcome 3, and part outcomes 6 and 8) to include provision and care and embed legislative/regulatory (not specified); increased from 8 to 15 credits.

· Shift of focus for outcome 6 (was outcome 4) and reduced by 2 credits; 5 credits added to outcome 2 (was outcome 1.)  

NZQF Certificate in Early Childhood Education (Level 4), with an optional strand in Practice-based Care [Ref: 4348]

· Creating new qualification exclusively for delivery outside Aotearoa New Zealand, not as a pathway to any New Zealand Early Childhood Education qualifications nor employment in New Zealand.

· The qualification specifications and conditions were designed for an off-shore focus with removal of New Zealand specific language where appropriate.

· Outcomes are generalised away from the New Zealand specific focus: learning and development, curriculum, environment, communications and relationships, cultural competencies, emerging personal philosophy; with an optional practice-based care strand including learning experiences and professional practice.

Review outcome

Reference	Version	Reviewed qualification	Outcome category	New qualification details/version (if applicable)
2848	1	New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Care (Level 2) New Zealand Certificate in Early Learning and Care (Level 2)	C-New replacement qualification	4338-1
2849	1	New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3)	B-New version of qualification	2849-2
2850	1	New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4)	B-New version of qualification	2850-2
2851	1	New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5)	B-New version of qualification	2851-2
2852	1	New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6)	B-New version of qualification	2852-2
4348	1	NZQF Certificate in Early Childhood Education (Level 4) with an optional strand in Practice-based Care  (Offshore only)		4348-1

Qualification review outcome categories

Outcome	Result	Category
No changes are identified to the qualification	Qualification version number and NZQF ID remain the same. New review date is required.	A
Minor changes are identified to the qualification	New version of qualification is required (NZQF ID remains the same). New review date is required.	B
Significant changes are required to the qualification	New replacement qualification is required with a new NZQF ID. The existing qualification will expire.	C
The qualification is no longer required be industry	The qualification will expire with no replacement.	D

Transition information

Reference	Version	Qualification title	Last date of entry*	Last date of assessment
2848	1	New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Care (Level 2)	28 February 2024	31 December 2024
2849	1	New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3)	N/A	31 December 2023
2850	1	New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4)	N/A	31 December 2023
2851	1	New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5)	N/A	31 December 2023
2852	1	New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6)	N/A	31 December 2023

*only required for outcome category C or D

Any additional information

People should not be enrolled in programmes leading to the award of the qualifications unless there is sufficient time available for them to meet the programme requirements before that version is discontinued.

People currently enrolled in programmes leading to version 1 of these qualifications may either complete the requirements by 31 December 2023 or transfer to version 2 of the qualification. 

People currently enrolled in programmes leading to the New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Care (Level 2) [Ref: 2848] may either complete the requirements before it is discontinued 31 December 2024, or transfer to the replacement qualification.

It is anticipated that no existing learners will be disadvantaged by the transition arrangements.  However, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the qualification developer, NZQA Qualifications Services at (nqs@nzqa.govt.nz) or 04 463 3000.