Our aim is to introduce a new curriculum statement (policy) into the New Zealand Curriculum, (NZC), under the Education Act.

The new statement we would like to introduce is called ‘Play-Based Learning for New Entrant students’.

Our aim under this statement is:

For teachers to be able to choose to use either the Te Whaariki curriculum (ECE curriculum) to support a child’s learning and development OR the Learning Progressions in the NZ Curriculum.

Some children aren’t ready for the learning progressions in the NZ curriculum because it is too instructional;  instead, having play based learning programmes, children are able to learn and develop at their own pace through play.  Children's learning can be assessed using the curriculum document Te Whaariki, rather than the Learning Progressions.

When children are showing that they are ready for a more instructional and formal learning then the teacher can  then choose to implement the NZC.