National will introduce new initiatives to ensure kids are ready for school, including an end to screens in early childhood education centres, setting limits in primary school and a new School Start Check to help kids transition from ECE to school.
National’s Education spokesperson Erica Stanford says these changes will form part of National’s Set Up for Success policy, focused on school readiness, better information for parents, and earlier support where needed.
“Young children are spending increasingly longer on screens, at the same time as the evidence tells us we should be cautious about excessive use.
“For younger children, we want to place greater emphasis on books, handwriting, conversation, hands-on activities and direct interaction with teachers and other children.
“In ECE, that means ending screen and individual-device use. In Years 1 to 3, screen use will be tightly limited, with age-appropriate limits also introduced for older primary students.
“Technology still has a place in education, but it should enhance learning, not become the default way children learn.
“That is why we are introducing Set up for Success, a series of steps that will ensure your child is school ready,” Ms Stanford says.
A re-elected National Government will:
- end screen and individual-device use in ECE, tightly limit screen and individual-device use in Years 1 to 3, and introduce age-appropriate limits for older primary students
- introduce a School Start Check at ECE before children transition to primary school
- introduce clearer developmental milestones throughout ECE and report this progress to parents
- identify areas where children may need additional support and address that through the Early Intervention Service
- require the writing component of twice-yearly primary school assessments to be completed on paper.
Ms Stanford says New Zealand is not alone in reconsidering how much time young children should spend learning through screens.
“The direction internationally is increasingly clear. Particularly for young children, digital does not automatically mean better.
“There is also growing evidence about the importance of handwriting and learning by hand. Forming letters helps children learn and retain information. When children are first learning to read and write, that matters.”
The second major part of Set Up for Success will be a School Start Check at ECE before children transition to primary school.
“Teachers are reporting an increasing number of new entrants are starting school lacking basic skills such as toilet training and eating and dressing independently. Children are arriving at school having never held a pencil or scissors, without the oral skills they need, and many cannot identify letters in their own name.
“To make a strong start at school, children need good foundations. The School Start Check will make those expectations clear and ECE centres will work with parents to assess how ready a child is to start school and where they may need extra support.
“This is about setting expectations, not a pass/fail test and will never stop a child starting school.
“Ensuring all young people leave school with the skills they need to secure jobs is an important part of National’s plan to fix the basics and build the future by growing the economy to create jobs, lift wages and keep taxes low.”
