Government cuts to early childhood education will mean extra cost-cutting measures for preschools and early childhood centres, say Marlborough education providers.
The cutbacks, which were announced in the 2010 Budget last May, took effect yesterday and affect about 2000 early childhood education providers nationwide, who have 80 per cent or more fully qualified staff.
Tony Fitzpatrick, owner of Little Footsteps in Blenheim, said the centre had increased its prices between $10 and $40, depending on how many hours or days children attended.
The business manager who also took care of administration left the business in October and he and other staff had taken over that role.
Mr Fitzpatrick said the cut "undervalues the importance of early childhood education".
"It's not just a way of getting kids out of their parents' hair. We're setting them up for the rest of their lives."
Minister of Education Anne Tolley said public spending on early childhood education had increased from $428 million in 2004-2005 to $1.17 billion in 2009-2010.
The funding level had become "unsustainable", with only a 1 per cent increase in the number of children starting primary school with some form of early childhood education.
The ministry planned to instead focus on Maori, Pasifika and poorer families with young children, which typically had a lower participation rate in early childhood education.
Fees have not increased yet at Beavertown Pre School and Beavertown Early Learning Centre, but the effects of the changes will not be known until after March, when funding for centres is allocated.
Owner Carolyn Gregg said the prices at both centres rose with GST in October and had not gone up since, but "in July we'll know the effect of the reduced funding and we'll go from there".
Staff would relieve for each other or attend night or Saturday courses to improve their professional development, instead of hiring a relief teacher for staff training, she said.
Picton Pre School licensee Bill McGrauddy said the business would defer raising prices to minimise the effect on "struggling parents".
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
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