In a meeting with early childhood education (ECE) providers and parents in the Mayfair Theatre, Ms Moroney attacked the Government for cutting $400 million of funding from the sector last year, which resulted in "reduced quality" and increased fees for parents.
National had targeted ECE over the past three years because "they don't understand it's about education", she said.
"They think it's about babysitting. They don't understand its importance to the future of the country."
Labour would campaign to restore ECE funding using money from its proposed capital gains tax.
Later, during a meeting with Otago primary principals, she said Labour recognised the importance of early childhood education; that every child was unique; and if New Zealand wanted to keep children engaged in education, they would need to understand children learnt in different ways.
For that reason, Labour did not support National Standards, and planned to abolish it. However, if schools had to stand another three years of National Standards, it would be "very hard to unpick", she said.
She also vowed to restore adult community education funding, which was cut last year, and believed education and social development policies needed to be well connected.
"Schools can't fix all the ills of society."
Ms Moroney said the Government had deliberately driven a wedge between teachers and parents, which was "condemning" children's education.
"The phone is off the hook between the Government and the education sector. They are demonising teachers - they don't respect teachers.
"The way to improve education is to support teachers."
While the education sector had endured much pressure caused by government funding cuts and National Standards, the worst may not be over.
"I would have thought [the Government] would have pushed Anne Tolley aside by now ... I think they still have some dirty work for her to do."
