While the global recession continues to take a toll on many businesses, early childhood educators in the southern region are thriving in the economic climate.
Wild Things Ltd (Dunedin) co-director Susan Phua said she had noticed a 25% increase in demand for child care across the company's Dunedin, Central Otago and Southland centres during the past six to eight months, and was now having to set up a second home-based service network to cope with demand in Dunedin.
The service allows preschool children to attend early childhood education classes in the homes of early childhood educators.
Up to 20 educators were needed to meet present demand at Wild Things, she said.
The preference for "one-on-one style early childhood education", the introduction of the 20-hours-free scheme, plus the baby boom in the region, were significant contributors to the increase in demand.
However, the recession was also a major factor, she said.
"For many families, a single income isn't enough to survive at the moment. So they are putting their children in child care so that they can both go back to work."
Dunedin Community Childcare Association team leader Heather Fagan agreed there had been a 25% increase in demand for child care in Dunedin, and in time, it may create an increased source of employment.
As the recession took a greater grip on the South, more parents could decide to become home- based educators because they could earn money from home while looking after their own children, she said.
Each home-based educator was allowed to teach four children (including their own) under the age of 6 at any one time and only two of the group can be under 2 years old.
Prospective home-based educators had to go through a strict selection process before being allowed to operate, but it was a relatively straightforward process, she said.
They are interviewed by a panel of teachers, they are required to complete a first aid certificate and an Open Polytechnic home-based education and care paper, they are police-vetted along with anyone else over the age of 17 in their house, they must undergo a health and safety check which must meet Ministry of Education standards, and they must teach the Te Whariki early childhood education curriculum.
While home-based educators were not required to have a teaching degree, many did, she said.
Waiting lists for places in early childhood education centres continued to grow, and up to 15 people a day called DCCA to inquire about the availability of a space in one of their centres.
However, she said the demand for home-based education was also increasing because it was becoming more widely accepted.
"More parents are specifically choosing home-based education as their early childhood education provider, as they gain a fuller understanding of the flexible, low ratio and affordable service.
"Home-based education costs about $4.50 per child under 5 per hour, whereas early childhood education centres cost between $5 and $6 per hour."
Both education organisations have been advertising for home-based educators recently and have been getting a good response.
