Children’s Commissoner John Angus has produced an interesting report around the importance of getting our investment in the early years of children right. Its no surprise that Labour will greet this report positively, given that it mirrors many of the things that we have been saying about support for parents, early childhood education and families, starting with Annette King’s outstanding speech to conference last year.
I particularly liked Annette’s comment yesterday
“Tilting resources towards all children’s development in their early years is vital for New Zealand to ensure as many of our children remain free from harm and are able to live the best lives they can when they become adults.
The contrast is with Anne Tolley, who is quoted in one article saying
“I note that many of the recommendations will involve increasing costs for services, and ultimately for parents.”
Well, that is certainly how she has approached early childhood education up to now, so perhaps it is no surprise. It really is a case of seeing the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Of course parents will bear much of the cost of raising their children, but we all benefit if we get the early years investment right. I would much rather pay now than have the cost of lost potential, and worse in terms of social exculsion, ill-health and offending later in life. As Annette said yesterday
“Initiatives including well-resourced and affordable early education, valuing and supporting young families and wide access to social and parenting programmes improve education, health and employment over a lifetime, and as a policy will pay for itself many times over in the long term.
Tilting resources towards all children’s development in their early years is vital for New Zealand to ensure as many of our children remain free from harm and are able to live the best lives they can when they become adults.
First elected to parliament in 1984, and Ms King has only just worked this out?
According to the Treasury website, the allocations for ECE (including grants) over the last four budgets are:
2007/08: $822 million
2008/09: $912 million
2009/10: $1170 million
2010/11: $1278 million
These increases have all exceeded the rate of inflation, especially the first budget of the current National government which increased the ECE budget by 28%.
The tone of your post is dishonest Grant.
Sorry, I buggered the HTML tags up.
And despite all the increases in ECE, and welfare for children, more children died than ever under labour. more children were in harm than ever. A shocking indictment of throwing money at a problem with no desire to achieve value from the spending, a common meme under labour
insumnation, and yet National, according to Sean is throwing even more $$$ for no reduction in child deaths. Who to vote for aye insumnation?
more children died than ever under labour. more children were in harm than ever.
False. Cite evidence for this sick slur, or withdraw and apologise.
Sorry tracey, when did I bring up the topic of child deaths?
You didn’t Sean, she’s grasping in the face of inconvenient truths.
you didnt SEan 14 it was insumnation…I combined your increased spending post with his suggestion more money doesnt stop deaths.
Lou, shouldnt you be doing your homework?
Insumation? Maybe vote education has needed help for some time.