Kindergartens Aotearoa supports the early childhood education policy announced by the Green Party which promotes free early childhood education for all families and a focus on community provision, not profit.

The policy is spelt out in the alternative Green budget released yesterday.

The Greens propose 20-hours free care and education children from 6 months up to school age with a $10 per day cap on fees for hours above that.

Under the plan, the entitlement would increase to 35 hours in 2029.

The policy was expected to cost almost $5.4b over four years.

The Green would also reduce subsidies over time for profit-oriented centres to move the sector to community ownership.

Kindergartens Aotearoa’s Amanda Coulston says the policy aligns with the kindergarten priorities of early childhood education as a public good which benefits children, families, communities, and society as a whole.

“Taxpayer funding should provide children with a good start in life, not be redirected to corporate profits” says Amanda.

“All children should be able to benefit from quality early childhood education”, she says.