A rural early-childhood centre in Manawatū is on the brink of closure, forcing 22 children to find new placements.
Country Kindy, located between Feilding and Palmerston North, will have its licence revoked by the Ministry of Education effective 5pm Monday. The Early Childhood Council, representing over 1300 centres, criticized the decision as heavy-handed due to alleged curriculum violations. CEO Simon Laube expressed urgency in extending the closure deadline.
According to Laube, the children attending Country Kindy come from across the wider Manawatū region and will now need alternative care options. He disputed the notion of closing a centre solely for curriculum issues, emphasizing that closures should be reserved for situations endangering children or posing health risks — which he argued was not the case here.
Despite community support evident at a recent public meeting, Laube lamented the Ministry’s decision to cancel the centre’s licence without clarity on the alleged violations.
Jocelyn Mikaere, Ministry of Education’s deputy secretary for te tai whenua-central, stated that Country Kindy was issued a provisional licence last September but failed to meet 17 compliance requirements under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulation 2008 and the Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008. These included governance, staff engagement, and curriculum standards.
Since the issuance of the provisional licence, Country Kindy received ministry-funded support, including professional development for staff. Despite extensions to comply, an assessment conducted up to April 5, 2024, found continued non-compliance with seven critical conditions, leading to the licence’s cancellation.
The centre’s website highlights its offerings, such as a large outdoor playground and a working farm experience for children aged 2-5. Owner Fiona Zwart described the closure as heartbreaking, noting families who travel up to an hour daily to benefit from the rural environment.
Parents, like Michelle Webb, expressed shock at the closure, criticizing the Ministry for not consulting affected families before making such a significant decision.
The Education Review Office’s 2022 report praised the centre’s routines and learning environment but noted deficiencies in reflecting children’s cultural identities consistently in the curriculum. The office outlined improvement actions focusing on cultural responsiveness and internal evaluation, highlighting areas needing development.
Despite previous compliance issues being addressed, the centre faces closure, impacting both children and families in the community.