As many of you know, I’ve had the absolute privilege of working in early childhood education for a number of years now. And the truth is — I still love it. I love being part of a team. I enjoy connecting with parents and whānau. And most importantly, I still feel incredibly honoured to teach and learn alongside children across the 0–5 age group. But let’s be real for a moment. The landscape of ECE — and teaching in general — has changed. It’s not the same as it once was. We’ve become the...

Over the past month I’ve had the privilege of spending time back in teaching spaces, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. The work has been varied, interesting, and incredibly rewarding. I’ve been teaching children, working alongside teachers, mentoring colleagues, and learning along the way. What has stood out to me most during this time is how much there still is to discover in teaching — new strategies, fresh perspectives, challenges that stretch our thinking, and opportunities...

The landscape of early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand is changing — and it has been for some time. Over the past ten years, and particularly the last five, I’ve watched the expectations placed on our sector shift in ways that feel both gradual and significant. In my own roles and responsibilities, I’ve felt the edges of the work expand. What was once clearly teaching now often sits alongside supporting, guiding, advocating, counselling, and sometimes — if we’re honest — filling...