Latest news with #EarlyChildhoodEducation
News.com.au
a day ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Concerning daycare images show children with their mouths taped shut in yoga exercise
A Sydney daycare centre has received a warning from the NSW Department of Education after concerning images emerged of children with their mouths covered with tape. The toddlers at Heritage House in Wahroonga, on Sydney's north shore, were participating in a breathing exercise as part of a yoga session last year. No injuries were reported from the exercise which was meant to be relaxing, but the Department launched an investigation into the matter after concerns were raised by a parent. 'While no children were harmed in this incident, it was an inappropriate activity that should not have taken place in an early learning centre,' a spokesperson from the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority told 'A thorough investigation was immediately conducted and a compliance action issued to the approved provider, which remains on their record.'  An external visitor was not running the yoga session, and the centre provided evidence to the Department that the mouth taping exercise has since been discontinued.  In a statement, Heritage House told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'It was a well-intentioned activity led by one of our educators, a yoga instructor.' 'We accept that the Department issued a warning and as a result we took steps to ensure that the activity was not repeated.' Photos of the activity were shared on the centre's parents app alongside a caption where an educator described the activity as 'unique'. 'The children gathered for a unique lesson combining breathwork, gentle yoga, and the tape-mouth technique. Guided to focus on nasal breathing, they playfully mimicked animals in yoga poses, learning to breathe deeply and calmly through their noses, fostering early mindfulness,' they wrote, according to SMH. A number of parents whose children attend the daycare threw their support behind the centre and its educators on Tuesday. One parent told 7News: 'They've always been very careful about the kids, their growth, their education, everything.' Another said: 'People are friendly, they seem engaged, kids are happy here.' Mouth taping, specifically for adults prone to mouth breathing while sleeping, has become a recent trend on TikTok but concerns have been raised about the dangers of restricting airflow.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Some ECE rule changes ‘dangerous'
Early Childhood Education Parents' Council spokeswoman Michelle De Bono is worried about some regulatory changes coming for ECE centres. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Unreported broken bones, a child being thrown in the bin and staff openly contemplating suicide are among the complaints being highlighted by a Dunedin early childhood education campaigner. ECE Parents' Council spokeswoman Michelle De Bono said the complaints were made by parents using a form on the organisation's website. The complaints showed the situation was already concerning enough, but she was worried changes the government was introducing to the sector could make it even worse. The changes — which have come from the Ministry of Regulation — that will be implemented over the coming months would no longer require Early Childhood Education (ECE) services to prominently display information about how to make a complaint to the ministry. ECE centres would also not have to display a copy of the regulations, the current licence certification, and the names and qualifications of staff. "They're literally gutting the licensing criteria." She said while many in Dunedin and nationwide were spoilt for choice when it came to "quality" ECE centres, many others were not so lucky. This was made clear in the 80 complaints her organisation had received and passed on to the Ministry of Education. Mrs De Bono said one parent made a complaint to the ECE centre their child attended when a head teacher put her child in a rubbish bin for swearing. The parent said the centre then shared her identity to the head teacher, leaving them feeling "vulnerable and distressed". A father also reported his son's arm being broken twice within the span of eight weeks while attending their ECE centre. The child's parents requested the CCTV footage, but were told they would not be able to see anything in the video anyway. The father said he felt "that they have neglected my son in taking care of him". A teacher at an ECE centre reported other staff working at their centre had talked about killing themselves on the floor. They said the staff member said "f ... this" and talked about drugs and rape in front of the children. Vapes would fall out of a colleague's pocket while she was working and the woman made obscene gestures at children and told them to shut up, the teacher said. Mrs De Bono said removal of signage meant parents would not be able to easily find out how to go about filing a complaint, and sometimes it would not be appropriate to ask the ECE centre directly for that information. "Those who are fortunate enough to be sending their babies and children to quality centres should be also advocating against these changes because it could all just change with this current government." She said there were "a whole heap of Kiwi parents out there" who were not satisfied and happy, and many others who were afraid to come forward. She said parents should know that sleep checks were going to be changed to every 15 minutes, and there would be no requirement for an adult to be present in the sleep room at all times. "The report has been accepted by Cabinet, and this is happening, and this involves your children and babies." "It's pretty significant, and dangerous — and it seems to be flying under the radar." Mrs De Bono said she encouraged caregivers who were unhappy with the standard of care or education at their children's ECE centre to complain using MyECE's online form. "Complaining about poor-quality practice can help raise the bar for ECE services for all whānau and tamariki," she said. The Ministry of Regulation did not respond to a request for comment.
Associated Press
19-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
TOOTRiS Names Jillian Ritter as Director of Early Childhood Systems
Trusted early education expert to strengthen Child Care systems through innovation and public-sector partnerships SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, June 19, 2025 / / -- With more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education, Jillian Ritter has earned a reputation as one of the field's most trusted and insightful leaders. From her early days as a Child Care teacher and center director to her work on national policy and emergency response, she brings deep, firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing families, providers, and public systems. Now, she is bringing that expertise to TOOTRiS, the nation's largest and most comprehensive Child Care platform, as Director of Early Childhood Systems. Ritter's understanding of the Child Care landscape runs deep — because she has lived it at every level. Her journey began as a 5th grader, staying home in the mornings to care for her younger brother while her mom drove a school bus route. That early responsibility sparked a passion that led her to the classroom, and to the front lines of national systems-building work. In her new role, Ritter will support the TOOTRiS Government Solutions team, working alongside state agencies, Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) networks, and community organizations to strengthen Child Care infrastructure and improve access for families. 'I'm incredibly excited to be working with TOOTRiS,' said Ritter. 'I've seen just how essential quality Child Care is — not only for children and families, but for the strength of our communities. I am passionate about supporting the people and systems that make it possible.' Originally from Michigan and now based in Indiana, Ritter spent years working in Head Start and Early Head Start programs across both states before transitioning into national leadership roles. She spent the last 14 years with Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA), where she led and supported several impactful national initiatives. As part of the Department of Defense-funded Military Child Care Liaison Initiative, Ritter worked across DoD-selected states to help increase the availability and quality of off-installation Child Care for military families, while expanding access to provider training and support. She also played a lead role on CCAoA's Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Team, offering training, coaching, and technical assistance to CCR&Rs and providers to ensure operational continuity before, during, and after disasters. Her work focused not only on helping Child Care programs stay resilient — but also on making sure the support systems behind them, including CCR&Rs themselves, could continue serving families and communities in times of crisis. Her national work also extended to research projects focused on improving Child Care quality, availability, and affordability. 'Jillian brings a unique combination of real-world experience and systems insight,' said Alessandra Lezama, CEO of TOOTRiS. 'She's lived the challenges that families and providers face every day — and she's experienced and has had great success building policies and partnerships that make a difference.' What began out of necessity grew into purpose. While working full-time at a local Child Care center, Ritter changed her college major to Child Development — an experience that shaped her lasting commitment to supporting children and the professionals who care for them. About TOOTRiS TOOTRiS is the nation's most comprehensive Tech-Enabled Child Care Services Provider offering a state-of-the-art platform, that provides real-time access to over 230,000 care providers nationwide, while supporting working parents, Child Care programs, employers, agencies, and policymakers. Through its recent acquisition of WorkLife Systems and its expanding partnerships with CCR&Rs, TOOTRiS is transforming Child Care into a foundational pillar of a strong workforce and equitable economy. Jeff McAdam TOOTRiS +1 720-988-0984 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Scoop
18-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Consultation On ECE Licensing Criteria Open
Associate Minister of Education Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that the Ministry of Education are now consulting on changing, merging, or removing approximately three-quarters of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) licensing criteria. 'Earlier this year the ECE Sector Review instigated 15 changes to modernise and simplify regulations,' Mr Seymour says. 'The changes to the ECE regulations show the power of a sector review. The Ministry for Regulation went in and listened to the people who actually run, work at, and use early childhood education. They found people encircled by multiple regulators enforcing out of date rules, and proposed solutions. 'The biggest complaint arises from the calcified, high stakes licencing criteria - 98 of them - that can each have a centre shut down with little to no notice. We are consulting on changing, merging, or removing approximately three-quarters of them. 'Some of the proposals being consulted on include more digital information distribution, more clarity, and Removing duplication of regulations that are covered by other authorities. New licensing criteria will be gazetted by the end of September. Consultation on changes to these is open until 24 July. You can have your say here: Have your say - Ministry of Education. 'By the end of next year ECE providers will be governed by a regulatory system which ensures regulations are focused on what matters – providing safe, high-quality care and education as the changes are rolled out over the coming year,' Mr Seymour says. 'ECE providers will no longer be burdened with 98 separate licensing criteria, many of which were arbitrary or outdated. 'By mid next year, graduated enforcement tools will be used to respond to breaches of the remaining licensing criteria. The only enforcement tools previously available were too blunt a tool for managing minor breaches and allowing early intervention. There will no longer be high-stakes open-or-shut rules that create anxiety and strained relationships for regulators and centre operators alike.' Graduated enforcement will give the regulator a range of enforcement measures. They will be able to respond proportionately to breaches, changing the sector's culture from a punitive approach to promoting quality. 'The changes to the licensing criteria represents a major shakeup of the sector's outdated system. Consultation will make the new licensing criteria great for children, parents and ECE service providers,' Mr Seymour says. 'There is huge demand for ECEs from families across New Zealand, however numbers show supply isn't keeping up. That is why we are committed to making changes which will allow the industry to expand and provide more high-quality services for families and their children. 'In the meantime, recent amendments to the pay parity opt-in scheme aim to provide some relief to ECE services. 'In a high-cost economy, regulation isn't neutral. It's a tax on growth. Every completed review makes it easier to do business, access services, and innovate in New Zealand. The ECE review is the first of many examples of what smarter regulation looks like in action.'
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New Mexico early childhood agency launches summer food program
Through August, more than 500 meal sites across New Mexico are providing free food on a first-come, first-served basis. (Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Young people and some adults with disabilities in New Mexico can receive free food this summer at hundreds of sites across the state. The state Early Childhood Education and Care Department last week launched its statewide Summer Food Service Program, which offers free, nutritious meals to children while on break from school and to adults who are enrolled in school programs for people with disabilities. Through August, more than 500 meal sites are providing food on a first-come, first-served basis. Sites and hours can be found on this map, or by calling 1-800-EAT-COOL (1-800-328-2665). In a statement, department Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky invited every New Mexico family to take advantage of the program. 'Nutritious meals are essential for children to thrive, and no child should go without food just because school is out,' Groginsky said. 'This program is one simple, effective way families can support their children's health this summer — in a fun and social environment too.' The agency said in a news release it expects to serve approximately 17,000 children and 750,000 meals this summer. Last year, it served 16,565 children and 720,603 meals, according to the release. Hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans, including one in four children, are food insecure, according to data from 2022 compiled by the nonprofit food bank network Feeding America. Counties with the highest rates of food insecurity include McKinley, Luna, Sierra, Socorro and Catron. The state Public Education Department also runs an alternative summer food program called the Seamless Summer Option, whose meal sites are also shown on the map linked above. PED also oversees SUN Bucks, for which some families are automatically eligible to receive $120 in food benefits per child. Starting next month, some Summer Food Service Program meal sites will make food using locally grown ingredients under a pilot based on the department's New Mexico Grown grant program. These programs are funded by the country's major federal food assistance program called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. A proposal going through the U.S. Congress could result in states shouldering some SNAP costs starting in 2028. Hunger advocates push for funding, policies at the Roundhouse
