Early education scheme extended

The 20-hour early childhood education (ECE) scheme has been extended to include 5-year-olds, kohanga reo and playcentres, Prime Minister John Key announced yesterday.

The ECE scheme was introduced in July 2007 and pays for 20 hours of educational childcare a week for pre-schoolers. National campaigned on extending the scheme.

Yesterday, Mr Key told reporters Cabinet had considered early childhood education funding rates and would adjust the ECE scheme for inflation (at just under 2 per cent) and extend it to include 5-year-olds, kohanga reo and playcentres.

Further changes would be announced by Education Minister Anne Tolley this week, he said.

The Government signalled the changes in the Budget where it said part of the $1.68 billion education budget - $1 billion in new money - would go towards expanding the ECE scheme.

- NZPA