Educating and caring for the youngest children in our community is an important responsibility. As an early childhood teacher at a kindergarten, early childhood centre, preschool, or other childcare centre, you’ll help lay a foundation for children’s educational success in their early years and throughout life.
The University’s early childhood teaching qualifications will give you the skills to take on this responsibility with confidence and to enjoy the excitement, creativity, and fun of working with young children.
In your degree you’ll learn to be professional, flexible, resourceful, and sensitive to human needs. You'll be prepared to work not only with young children but also with a variety of adults in the community.
You’ll spend time experiencing what it is like in real centres, applying what you’ve learnt in your university courses, and building relationships with teachers and children.
The Education Professional Practice and Partnerships Office will find placements for you, so you shouldn’t approach any early childhood centres to set up a placement on your own.
Examine Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum and discover how to guide children’s learning and development through it. Understand the context of early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand and get prepared to work in different types of early education services. These include kindergarten, early childhood services, and Pacific Island language nests.
If you want to help children get the best start in life, Early Childhood Teacher Education is the right subject for you.

I believe that much development, growth and learning happens for young children in the beginning years of their life. They should have the opportunity to be in an environment that supports, enriches and enhances this.
Full storyRebecca Gray
Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood student
Undergraduate degrees
Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood – BEd(Tchg)EC
- Duration 3 years
- Complete 360 points
- Location Kelburn, Wellington
- Entry University Entrance (or alternative admission type) and character/fitness requirements of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Graduate qualifications
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) – GDipTchg(ECE)
- Duration 3 trimesters
- Complete 150 points
- Location Kelburn, Wellington
- Entry Bachelor's degree or equivalent, police check, references and selection meeting.
Example courses
Ako 1: Ngā Anga—Care and education frameworks and pedagogies
Te Ao Hurihuri 1: Te Tiriti—History and transformative education
Te Ao Hurihuri 2: Ngā Auahatanga—Innovations in Care and Education
Te Ao Hurihuri 3: Ngā Ariā—Theories of growth and learning in context
Te Reo Māori 1: Hei Whaiora
Tātaimarau me Te Reo Māori 2: Kia Rere—The '100' Languages of Children