Her Magazine is New Zealand’s only women’s business lifestyle magazine! Her Magazine highlights the achievements of successful and rising New Zealand businesswomen. Her Magazine encourages a healthy work/life balance.
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/54854
How the Government supports the Early Childhood Education system In 2006 she gained her Early Childhood qualifications from the New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education to quieten any cynics. Although Maria endorses other mothers to do some form of early childhood education she doesn't suggest it makes you a better mother. "Being a mother is one of the most important jobs you could ever do and I don't think there is enough training for it. I came out of high school and went straight into primary school teaching, so I've always had that educational background. I always say to my new graduates that you've either got it or you don't. You can't teach someone how to be nurturing." Maria was encouraged to enter this year's Greater Wellington Her Businesswoman of the Year Awards by 2011's winner, Camilla Welch, Managing Director of Label and Litho Limited, and thanks an encouraging spouse, sons Mathew, Joshua, Benjamin and Jacob, her family and staff for her success. "When I found out I was finalist I phoned my mum and dad and told them they had to come down to the Awards. I managed to get a table of people together, not really thinking I would win. It was very overwhelming and humbling. "It's nice to have the encouragement from other people in business who say 'what you do is amazing'. Mothers go out and do their jobs without thinking that they should be recognised for it. I'm learning that it is OK to stand up and be proud of the work you do." The 43-year-old reinforces that networking is imperative to her business's success. Being president of the Early Childhood Council has encouraged this, but she has also learned the importance of networking outside that group to get input from people in general business in New Zealand. The next Little School is due to open in Auckland this month, and Maria has been back and forth to China negotiating a deal to train preschool teachers and open Little Schools there. With kindergartens catering for around 1,500 children the opportunities to grow the business have never looked better. www.littleschool.co.nz HER MAGAZINE | February/March 2012 | 45 The ECE PRT Support Grant, introduced in 2005, helps teacher-led ECE services to support their provisionally registered teachers to become fully registered. Provisionally registered teachers are teachers who: • hold the Diploma of Teaching (eCe) or another new Zealand Teachers Council approved ECE qualification; and • hold a New Zealand Teachers Council practising certificate that indicates they are provisionally registered as teachers. The Government is committed to quality ECE. Qualified and registered teachers play an important role in this. The Government has a target of 80% qualified and registered eCe teachers in teacher-led, centre-based eCe services by 2012. The regulated minimum requirement is 50% qualified and registered teachers. The Government wants to ensure all children and families can access quality ECE services in all areas of New Zealand. The priority is to improve participation in quality ECE among Māori and Pasifika children, and children from low-income families. For more information visit www.lead.ece.govt.nz