Key points
The aim of early childhood education is to promote children's learning and development. Evidence from New Zealand and international research shows that the early years of childhood are vital to a child’s development and future ability to learn. Quality early childhood programmes prepare young children socially, physically and academically for entry into primary education and can help narrow the achievement gap between children from low-income families and those from more advantaged families.
- There has been an increasing rate of participation by Waikato children in Early Childhood Education (ECE) services, however the ECE participation rate of Māori children remains relatively low compared to other ethnic groups.
- The rate of participation by 3 and 4 year old children in the Waipa District in ECE has remained relatively consistent between 2001 and 2008, and is currently just below the Waikato regional rate of 93.4% for 2008.
- The participation rate of Māori children in ECE as measured in Year 1 students in 2008 is relatively high in the Waipa District at 92.8%, above the Waikato regional rate for Māori.
Early childhood education “apparent” participation rate (%) for 3 and 4 year-olds combined for territorial authorities within the Waikato Region
| Territorial Authority |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| Franklin District |
64.3 |
68.2 |
67.0 |
72.3 |
74.9 |
76.8 |
70.2 |
75.3 |
| Thames-Coromandel District |
92.9 |
95.6 |
101.2 |
102.8 |
109.5 |
110.4 |
107.9 |
97.7 |
| Hauraki District |
75.8 |
76.2 |
80.9 |
79.8 |
84.5 |
93.0 |
91.8 |
88.4 |
| Waikato District |
61.2 |
59.9 |
62.6 |
65.5 |
68.5 |
69.1 |
75.9 |
75.6 |
| Matamata-Piako District |
89.0 |
95.4 |
102.5 |
98.9 |
106.1 |
102.0 |
100.6 |
103.2 |
| Hamilton City |
100.7 |
101.8 |
104.6 |
105.5 |
111.2 |
108.4 |
104.1 |
104.9 |
| Waipa District |
90.4 |
93.4 |
89.0 |
92.2 |
92.8 |
87.8 |
93.8 |
90.8 |
| Otorohanga District |
51.8 |
62.1 |
66.8 |
67.9 |
68.9 |
72.0 |
69.7 |
73.5 |
| South Waikato District |
79.3 |
85.3 |
84.7 |
87.2 |
89.4 |
84.2 |
88.3 |
91.3 |
| Waitomo District |
65.0 |
74.1 |
73.9 |
68.3 |
67.8 |
72.7 |
69.0 |
58.6 |
| Taupo District |
82.1 |
80.7 |
82.1 |
83.5 |
84.4 |
86.1 |
80.6 |
90.6 |
| Rotorua District |
86.7 |
88.6 |
89.4 |
89.2 |
89.0 |
88.5 |
87.2 |
88.3 |
Source: Ministry of Education/MSD Social Report 2009
Note: These figures overestimate the true participation rate. Rates in excess of 100% are possible because children can be enrolled in more than one ECE service.
Early childhood attendance (%) by Year 1 students by ethnic group for territorial authorities within the Waikato Region - 2008
| Territorial Authority |
European |
Māori |
Pacific |
Asian |
Other |
Total |
| Franklin District |
98.1 |
76.3 |
91.7 |
91.1 |
100.0 |
92.1 |
| Thames-Coromandel District |
98.0 |
93.3 |
66.7 |
66.7 |
100.0 |
95.7 |
| Hauraki District |
99.3 |
93.0 |
60.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
96.6 |
| Waikato District |
97.8 |
86.0 |
75.0 |
95.2 |
60.0 |
92.7 |
| Matamata-Piako District |
95.8 |
87.0 |
83.3 |
93.8 |
83.3 |
93.4 |
| Hamilton City |
99.1 |
91.3 |
97.4 |
95.3 |
91.0 |
95.6 |
| Waipa District |
96.8 |
92.8 |
83.3 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
95.7 |
| Otorohanga District |
100.0 |
87.2 |
0.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
95.5 |
| South Waikato District |
96.6 |
89.0 |
86.7 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
91.6 |
| Waitomo District |
95.1 |
91.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
92.0 |
| Taupo District |
98.3 |
92.6 |
66.7 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
95.7 |
| Rotorua District |
94.8 |
86.4 |
78.4 |
82.1 |
91.7 |
89.3 |
Source: Ministry of Education/MSD Social Report 2009
What agencies are doing
Information currently being collated.
What you can do to help
Information currently being collated.
More information
More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.
What we want to achieve
The community outcomes we are seeking to achieve by increasing participation in early childhood education are:
- Education provides opportunities so we can reach our full potential as individuals and contribute to the well-being of the whole region.
- Maori enjoy the same quality of health, education, housing, employment and economic outcomes as non-Maori.