> >
> > Hmmm . . . don't really know. Grade One here is concerned with reading and writing, as opposed to reading and writing *readiness*, which is what I think she wants to focus on.
> >
> > Anyway, I'll forward the info - thanks!
>
> well... As far as I can remember, Kinder is about Learning to write your name, and counting to ten, and pretty basic stuff like that. We don't have a Prep, and pre-school is more a child-care service, and not compulsary. Again, this is my memory, and not authoritative.
>
> Those sites will have curriculum stuff on them, anyway.
>
> samhael

If your friend *is* interested in pre-school teaching, there was an article in the NZ Herald today about how in Auckland alone TWO THOUSAND more pre-school teachers are needed. While pre-school is not compulsory, it is not necessarily a child-care service either. We have government-sponsored kindergartens and privately funded ones, and I understand that both focus much more on early childhood education than on day care. Another pre-school category is the kohanga reo or "language nest", bilingual kindies set up to foster the Maori language (I doubt these would be of interest to your friend, though).

The article also mentioned that pre-school teachers with a degree, diploma or other qualification in early childhood education make around NZ $15/hour. Those without a qualification (who would be more like day care providers, I assume) make around NZ $10/hour. However, the severe shortage is pushing up wages all the time.