Latest news with #SarahAlexander
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Teachers Are Paying The Price For Lack Of ECE Funding In The Budget
The Office of Early Childhood Education (OECE) fears sweeping – and sudden – changes to the pay parity scheme, allowing most ECE centres to pay graduate teachers, teachers coming from overseas and those moving from primary schools to ECE lower salaries, will seriously harm the sector's ability to attract new talent. Today, the Ministry of Education has announced that from July 1, education and care centres will only have to pay newly certificated teachers and certificated teachers who are new to working in New Zealand ECE centres at step 1 of the salary scale, which is $57,358 per year ($27.58 an hour) for at least the first year. Previously, services were required to take into account whether teachers held additional and higher qualifications, such as an honours degree or Masters degree of teaching, when working out what their starting salary should be. They also had to recognise any prior relevant work experience and any experience in the primary school system when assessing teachers' level of experience. The OECE's chief advisor Dr Sarah Alexander says the message this sends to educators and employers alike is clear: 'ECE teachers and their families are the ones that must self-sacrifice to keep ECE service financial margins up'. 'It also sends out a message that higher qualifications and experience for teachers count for nothing. This is devastating news for ECE teachers and the future of our profession.' Although ECE employers will be required to honour existing pay rates with teachers, it is not entirely accurate for the Ministry to claim that currently employed certificated teachers should not be affected by the change. That's because under the new rules, services that have opted to pay their permanently employed certificated teachers according to the parity or extended pay parity scale amounts won't be able to opt in to attest to paying higher salary scales after the July 2025 funding payment, for a period of 2 years. This could effectively equate to a pay freeze for many teachers employed at more than 1000 ECE services across Aotearoa because the service providers they work for won't be able to access increased funding to improve pay for staff. In Alexander's view, the government is doing this to try to limit its expenditure on ECE sector funding – because each funding round the number of centres opting in to paying extended and full pay parity goes up. (Under the pay parity scheme, services get more funding if they agree to pay certificated teachers according to one of four increasing salary scales.) The changes come just days after Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced the cost adjustment for ECE in the 2025 Budget would be just 0.5%. This was miles behind inflation, which is at 2.5%, so is effectively a funding cut. (See The Ministry has said in documents detailing the changes that the rationale is to 'support the sustainability of education and care… alongside the cost adjustment to subsidy rates announced as part of Budget 2025.' Alexander says: 'In other words, the Ministry is saying ECE teachers must pay the price for the lack of investment in the sector in Budget 2025. This is a way of keeping the cost of ECE centre funding down for the Government, while also not affecting service providers' bottom lines.'
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Early Childhood Education Sector Confidence Survey Results 2025
Press Release – Office of Early Childhood Education The results of the 2025 confidence survey, which the Office of Early Childhood Education (OECE) conducts annually in the last few weeks before the Budget is released, show that the sentiment in the sector is at an all-time low. Confidence in where the early childhood education sector is heading falls to all-time low – 82% of those at the coalface say it's going in the wrong direction. 1.6 stars out of 5. That's the average rating that 1000 professionals and experts in early childhood education (ECE) have given the Government's track record on improving the sector. The results of the 2025 confidence survey, which the Office of Early Childhood Education (OECE) conducts annually in the last few weeks before the Budget is released, show that the sentiment in the sector is at an all-time low. The vast majority of respondents (82%) said they felt the Government was taking the sector in the wrong direction. Just 9% said things were headed the right way. That put net confidence at -77% – the worst result since the survey started in 2018. The outlook for the future of the sector was equally dire, with 83% of participants expecting the situation to get worse and just 6% predicting that things would improve. The OECE's chief advisor Dr Sarah Alexander says the findings should be a wake up call to politicians. 'Alarm bells should be ringing loudly. The message from teachers in our services and sector veterans alike is abundantly clear: we need urgent and drastic change.' More than half of respondents had been pessimistic about the direction the sector was going in for five consecutive years. During the last 12 months, the Government has introduced sweeping changes to how the sector operates. These have included removing restrictions for opening new services, Cabinet accepting recommendations by the Ministry for Regulation to to strip back regulations, and the scrapping of requirements for centre employers to pay relievers in line with pay parity scales. The Coalition Government has also recently announced it will waive fees for teacher registration and the renewal of teacher practicing certificates for the next three years. While a small group of respondents, mostly owners of private for-profit centres, were supportive of these shifts, overall the sector was dissatisfied with them, the OECE's research found. 'The new policy changes (teacher registration fees free for the next three years) are just a front for the lack of other things that should be addressed: funding and staff salaries and teacher-child ratios,' one respondent said. Another respondent described being 'devastated that striving for best practice can be wiped out by those who have no appreciation of the importance of the early years and do not listen to the concerns of the sector'. Low pay, insufficient ratios and resourcing, and funding issues continued to be some of the biggest pain points of the sector, the survey revealed. One educator said they have a Bachelors degree, yet their husband, who works as a lifeguard, earns more than they do. A respondent who gave the Government a one-star rating said they were deeply dissatisfied: 'There's been a lot of talk, but not enough meaningful action. Quality ECE requires sustained investment in kaiako, fair pay, manageable ratios, and a genuine understanding of what tamariki and whānau need. 'Right now, it feels like the sector is being asked to do more with less, and that's not sustainable.' Alexander, the OECE's chief advisor, is calling on the Government to properly listen to what those in the sector have to say and respond with policies that will enhance the quality of the care and education the sector provides. 'Will there be anything in Budget 2025 to reverse the grim situation the ECE sector is perceived to be in? Seeing these problems, will other political parties actively call out the Government on decisions and changes that have potential to, or will, make things worse still?,' she says. The full report can be viewed at: About the Office for Early Childhood Education The Office for Early Childhood Education advocates for best practice in the sector, based on what research tells us about what is best for tamariki. We are not a lobby group and we represent all parts of the sector. As well as being the national body for ECE, the OECE advises the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies on early childhood education and care. We are non-partisan.
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Early Childhood Education Sector Confidence Survey Results 2025
Confidence in where the early childhood education sector is heading falls to all-time low – 82% of those at the coalface say it's going in the wrong direction. 1.6 stars out of 5. That's the average rating that 1000 professionals and experts in early childhood education (ECE) have given the Government's track record on improving the sector. The results of the 2025 confidence survey, which the Office of Early Childhood Education (OECE) conducts annually in the last few weeks before the Budget is released, show that the sentiment in the sector is at an all-time low. The vast majority of respondents (82%) said they felt the Government was taking the sector in the wrong direction. Just 9% said things were headed the right way. That put net confidence at -77% – the worst result since the survey started in 2018. The outlook for the future of the sector was equally dire, with 83% of participants expecting the situation to get worse and just 6% predicting that things would improve. The OECE's chief advisor Dr Sarah Alexander says the findings should be a wake up call to politicians. 'Alarm bells should be ringing loudly. The message from teachers in our services and sector veterans alike is abundantly clear: we need urgent and drastic change.' More than half of respondents had been pessimistic about the direction the sector was going in for five consecutive years. During the last 12 months, the Government has introduced sweeping changes to how the sector operates. These have included removing restrictions for opening new services, Cabinet accepting recommendations by the Ministry for Regulation to to strip back regulations, and the scrapping of requirements for centre employers to pay relievers in line with pay parity scales. The Coalition Government has also recently announced it will waive fees for teacher registration and the renewal of teacher practicing certificates for the next three years. While a small group of respondents, mostly owners of private for-profit centres, were supportive of these shifts, overall the sector was dissatisfied with them, the OECE's research found. 'The new policy changes (teacher registration fees free for the next three years) are just a front for the lack of other things that should be addressed: funding and staff salaries and teacher-child ratios,' one respondent said. Another respondent described being 'devastated that striving for best practice can be wiped out by those who have no appreciation of the importance of the early years and do not listen to the concerns of the sector'. Low pay, insufficient ratios and resourcing, and funding issues continued to be some of the biggest pain points of the sector, the survey revealed. One educator said they have a Bachelors degree, yet their husband, who works as a lifeguard, earns more than they do. A respondent who gave the Government a one-star rating said they were deeply dissatisfied: 'There's been a lot of talk, but not enough meaningful action. Quality ECE requires sustained investment in kaiako, fair pay, manageable ratios, and a genuine understanding of what tamariki and whānau need. 'Right now, it feels like the sector is being asked to do more with less, and that's not sustainable.' Alexander, the OECE's chief advisor, is calling on the Government to properly listen to what those in the sector have to say and respond with policies that will enhance the quality of the care and education the sector provides. 'Will there be anything in Budget 2025 to reverse the grim situation the ECE sector is perceived to be in? Seeing these problems, will other political parties actively call out the Government on decisions and changes that have potential to, or will, make things worse still?,' she says. The full report can be viewed at: About the Office for Early Childhood Education The Office for Early Childhood Education advocates for best practice in the sector, based on what research tells us about what is best for tamariki. We are not a lobby group and we represent all parts of the sector. As well as being the national body for ECE, the OECE advises the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies on early childhood education and care. We are non-partisan.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The #1 Fruit to Eat for Better Heart Health, According to a Cardiologist
Reviewed by Dietitian Karen Ansel, M.S., RDNAccording to a cardiologist, avocados are the best fruits for heart health. Avocados are rich in heart-healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Research has found they may help lower cholesterol and blood disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. And millions of Americans take cholesterol- and blood pressure-lowering medication to reduce their risk. But what if we told you there were certain foods that were proven to protect against heart disease? Like fruit! Of course, there are loads of choices. So, we asked cardiologist Sarah Alexander, M.D., FACC, to share her favorite fruit for heart health. Her answer? Avocados (yes, they're actually fruits!). Here's why she's such a big fan, plus tasty ways to add more of these heart-healthy fruits to meals, snacks and even desserts. Avocados contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that support heart health. One standout, says Alexander, is potassium. 'Potassium helps lower blood pressure by decreasing the effects of sodium,' she says. Think of potassium and sodium like a seesaw, where potassium works to counterbalance the blood pressure-raising effects of sodium. With nearly 500 milligrams of potassium per half-avocado, they boast even more potassium than bananas. That's not all. Avocados are also packed with antioxidants like carotenoids and vitamin E, which help protect blood vessels, lower harmful LDL cholesterol and promote overall vascular health. Avocados are rich in heart-friendly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Research has shown that these fats can help lower LDL cholesterol levels., These fats are so beneficial that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans specifically recommends prioritizing them over saturated fats as much as possible. Several studies confirm a link between avocados and lower LDL and better heart health. For instance, a meta-analysis of seven studies found that avocado eaters had lower total and LDL cholesterol than non-avocado eaters. Additional research links avocado consumption to less heart disease overall. For instance, one study found that people who ate at least two servings of avocado per week were 16% less likely to develop cardiovascular disease and 21% less likely to have coronary heart disease than those who didn't eat avocados. The study also found that replacing just half a serving of butter or margarine with avocado was associated with a 16% to 22% lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Avocados are packed with fiber, a nutrient that most of us don't consume enough of. In fact, half an avocado provides nearly 7 grams of fiber. That's one-quarter of the 28-gram Daily Value! About half of that is cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber. This helpful fiber binds to cholesterol building blocks in the gut and sweeps them out of your body like a broom, naturally lowering cholesterol. If that weren't enough, research has found that fiber also plays a role in reducing blood pressure. Have you ever noticed how margarine tubs are often plastered with heart-healthy logos or claims? The reason is that many of these products contain cholesterol-lowering compounds called plant sterols. Well, so do avocados! In fact, avocados boast more plant sterols than most other fruits. 'Plant sterols can lower cholesterol by preventing absorption of cholesterol, and lower cholesterol can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease,' says Alexander. They work by acting like shields, helping block cholesterol absorption in the gut. They're so effective that they've been shown to lower LDL cholesterol by roughly 10%. Here are some fresh ideas to enjoy avocados in meals, snacks, drinks or even sweet treats: Try a New Twist on Avocado Toast: Who doesn't love avocado toast? For a new spin on this heart-healthy favorite, try our White Bean & Avocado Toast. Or, for a protein-packed alternative, top it with Jammy Eggs. Transform Them into Dips: Guacamole is one of Alexander's favorites. Plus, it's one of the easiest dips to prepare. Chipotle fans will love our Almost Chipotle's Guacamole. Craving something different? Whip up our ultra-creamy Avocado-Yogurt Dip and enjoy it with sliced fresh veggies for dunking. Swap Them in for Mayo: Give your chicken or tuna salad a creamy, heart-healthy makeover by swapping in avocado for all or part of your recipe's mayo. It's deliciously creamy in this Avocado Chicken Salad. Or, mash it to use in place of mayo or cheese in sandwiches. Blend Them into Smoothies or Soups: Add fresh or frozen avocado chunks to smoothies or soups for a rich, creamy texture. Need ideas? Try our Really Green Smoothie or this avocado-infused Creamy Cucumber Soup. Try Them in Desserts: Really! Avocados can be whipped into mousses, shakes, puddings or even frosting. Chocolate lovers, don't miss our 'Chocomole' Pudding, or slurp a Chocolate Avocado Shake. Avocados are the No. 1 fruit for heart health, according to a cardiologist. These nutritious fruits are jam-packed with a wealth of heart-healthy nutrients. They're loaded with unsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and plant sterols that support heart health. Thanks to their mild flavor and rich and creamy texture, avocados are delicious in dips, sandwiches, smoothies, soups, shakes and even desserts. So, give your heart the love it deserves and dig into one today! Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The gem of a family butchers and farm shop named the best in the South East
It's the family run New Forest butchers with a difference, an award winning farm shop where local produce takes centre stage. And now The Farmers Butcher, at Swallowfields Farm in Bramshaw, has been named the best in the South East. Owners of eight years Michael and Sarah Alexander are thrilled with their latest accolade, from the 2025 Countryside Alliance Awards. (Image: The Farmers Butcher)READ MORE: Restaurateur to turn his late Dad's beloved former Indian into Texan Smokehouse Described as a gem by judges, who are set to announce the national winner next month, The Farmer's Butcher champions, supplies and delivers high quality, local farm products, at reasonable prices. Foodies visiting their new shop and picket fenced outdoor café area, which opened just over a year ago, can also treat themselves to a wide range of fresh vegetables, cooking sauces, chutneys, and other deli items. Specialising in quality, local meats there's pork from the Commoners Larder, chicken from Noah's Ark, lamb from Parsonage Farm, and beef from other Hampshire and Wiltshire farms. All products, wherever possible, are sourced from local businesses, mostly in the New Forest. If unavailable locally, The Farmer's Butcher buys from small ethical producers, including a few in Devon. Mike told the Daily Echo: "When presented with such an abundance of quality produce on our doorstep, it seems an act of treason to look elsewhere for suppliers. "I can turn up and see exactly where it comes from whenever I feel the need." (Image: The Farmers Butcher) The premises include an on-site kitchen where a chef produces their ready-to-cook range. That's stocked alongside fresh bread, local cakes, ready-to-go hot food, such as homemade sausage rolls and pies, and coffee to takeaway or enjoy outside, using sustainable packaging wherever possible. The Farmer's Butcher, a former Taste Awards winner for its bacon, hosts local product tasting events, pop up cafés and hands-on butchery masterclasses. There's regular barbecues, meet the producer events and a web shop with local deliveries available. The shop will now represent the South East at the UK-wide Countryside Alliance Awards final at the House of Lords in London on June 18.
