16 September 2010

Dear Parents and Caregivers

I am writing to you about the effects on the Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA) of the 2010 Government Budget and what you can do to support us. As you know the Government funds our kindergartens. Each year the Government’s Budget sets out how we will be funded.

The 2010 Budget has introduced changes which will have a huge effect on the way the AKA is funded. These changes will mean a reduction in our funding; a reduction of about $500,000 in the coming year! To survive this reduction in our income, we must increase our income or reduce expenses for all our kindergartens.

We firmly believe in the value of high quality early childhood education. To sustain this quality, we desperately need your help. We need you to support your kindergarten to retain the high quality that you are used to.
What can you do?

If you attend a Sessional Kindergarten

• use the 20 Hours policy with the AKA
• pay the optional charge of 50cents per hour and/or
• fundraise to pay for operational costs or ‘extras’ that we cannot budget for and/or
• pay a donation to the kindergarten
• ensure your attendance, for days and times, at the kindergarten matches your enrolment to allow us to maximise our income from the Government.

If you attend an all-day Kindergarten

• use the 20 Hours policy with the AKA
• pay the $4 per hour fee for the non 20 Hours component of their enrolment
• ensure your attendance, for days and times, at the kindergarten matches your enrolment to allow us to maximise our income from the Government.

Please note; while there has been a significant reduction in the funding for all-day services the financial benefit is still higher than operating a sessional service.

We are conscious of the global recession and the impact on our Government and on our families. We acknowledge that the Government needed to make cost savings, but we are highly disappointed that the Government cost savings have been heavily focused in the area of early childhood education. Research proves how valuable ECE is for children to develop life-long skills for learning. We will continue to lobby for the recognition that high quality early childhood education deserves.

For further information on the Government Budget 2010 - www.beehive.govt.nz/feature/budget2010

If you have any queries please contact me via email tanya@aka.org.nz

Yours sincerely

Tanya Harvey
General Manager