The Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) will equip ākonga with a recognised, flexible and applied teaching qualification in the early childhood education context.

  •  
    Level
    7
  •  
    Credits
    360
  •  
    Cost
    $16,248 NZ Domestic

    Not including any course materials or external exam fees.

  •  
    Student loan

Practical courses connect theory with practice and are strongly aligned with sector needs to ensure work-ready graduates equipped with skills and knowledge required for ECE teaching positions or for further study at postgraduate level.

This qualification will prepare you for a career as an early childhood teacher within a range of ECE settings including, kindergartens, education and care centres, teacher-led home-based care agencies, and puna reo or other language immersion settings. Graduates of the programme are eligible to apply to the Teaching Council Aotearoa for Teacher Registration

 

What you will learn:

Graduates of the programme will have the skills to:

  • Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te reo Māori and tikanga Māori in early childhood education settings to support tamariki Māori to enjoy educational success as Māori
  • Utilise skills for engaging appropriately and effectively with tamariki, their parents, families and whānau, aiga, as well as colleagues, stakeholder professionals and external organisations supporting early childhood education settings.
  • Critically analyse effective practices for planning, differentiating and implementing learning and teaching practices for tamariki and rangatahi of diverse backgrounds and which meet specific learning needs across the full range of abilities in early childhood education settings
  • Utilise current research on tamariki development in the physical, social, intellectual, emotional and cultural domains to facilitate accurate and useful planning, programming and assessment of learning and for learning in early childhood education settings
  • Demonstrate learning gained in multiple, varied early childhood practicum opportunities with the support of accomplished mentors
  • Apply critical reflection to continually improve teaching knowledge and skills, and collaborate effectively with professional colleagues within and beyond their early childhood education context.

 Programme Delivery

You will access courses online with academic support from academic staff members. Contact with your academic staff members and other students will occur at regional workshops, noho marae, tutorials and during practicums over the course of your study.

  

My role at the Open Polytechnic is to support our ECE students throughout their study. Regional Lecturers have a group of students that they mentor in their area, meaning that this is a unique method of flexible learning, where you are able to study via distance, but also have a local point of contact. I am available to point my students in the right direction for support on their course work and any other questions they may have around academic study. I also offer support and guidance to students throughout their placements in Early Childhood Centres.

Shannon Nearey - Regional Lecturer, ECE

 

Noho marae

Noho marae are held at urban and rural marae around New Zealand and give you the opportunity to build your skills and knowledge required to teach effectively in a bicultural context.

Please complete this form to select your preferred location:

Noho Marae  2024 April/May

For ākonga enrolled in Tō Tātou Tiriti courses, below are the dates and locations of the noho marae offered in the first half of 2024 (details for noho marae offered in the second half of 2024 will be posted once confirmed). Please note that while these dates and venues are as confirmed as they can be, a change might occasionally be required.

  • Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta/Upper Hutt: 13-14 April 2024, Ōrongomai Marae
  • Ōtautahi/Christchurch: 4-5 May 2024, Ōnuku Marae
  • Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland: 11-12 May 2024, Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae, MIT
  • Rotorua: 18-19 May 2024, Tangatarua Marae
  • Ōtepoti/Dunedin: 25-26 May 2024, Puketeraki Marae

 

Workshop & noho marae Schedule

February 2024 workshop schedule

 

Practicum

During the programme you will gain teaching experience in five assessed practicums, totalling 120 days in a number of approved licenced early childhood centres. Each practicum offers you the opportunity to work alongside children and qualified early childhood teachers to integrate your learning in relation to everyday teaching experiences. You will attend practicum workshops each year to prepare you for the practicum experience.

 During each practicum:

  • you will have support from an associate teacher working in the early childhood centre and your regional lecturer.
  • you will be part of all aspects of the centre’s programme during this time.

 

This programme's enrolment dates differ from our standard dates.

New learners need to apply five weeks before their preferred start date. Re-enrolling learners can follow the standard enrolment dates for this programme. 

Please use this table for specific enrolment close dates for new learners: 

Course starting in  Applications for new learners close 
24 June 2024 20 May 2024
21 October 2024 16 September 2024

 

Maximum Programme Completion Time 

To be awarded the qualification, the programme must be completed in no more than 6 years of first enrolment, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

  •  
    Level
    7
  •  
    Credits
    360
  •  
    Cost
    $16,248 NZ Domestic

    Not including any course materials or external exam fees.

  •  
    Student loan