Pause on kindy changes after backlash

Six months after launching changes demanded by parents to the way kindergartens operate, the policy is stopping in the face of a rival parental backlash.

The Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA) has found itself caught between opposing groups of parents demanding different things.

The changes affect more than 6000 parents at 107 kindys.

In March, the Auckland kindy association announced a series of proposed changes in response to growing demand from parents for more all-day childcare - including increasing hours and abolishing term breaks.

These changes were rolled out in tranches across Auckland from April. As of October, 30 of the AKA’S 107 kindergartens offered the extended service.

But now AKA have ‘‘hit pause’’ on the changes, and are instead bringing in an independent reviewer to consider what affects these changes have had on staff and children.

In an open letter written to parents and staff on Thursday, chief executive Tanya Harvey said they decided to ‘‘take a breather’’ to assess whether the changes are having ‘‘the positive impact [AKA] believed would occur’’.

Harvey said they had received a ‘‘mixed bag’’ of feedback to the changes and wanted to be transparent with parents and staff as to the reasoning behind the review.

Feedback to the announcement of a pause had been immediate, she said, with some parents phoning the AKA offices to raise concerns just hours after the letter was put online.

‘‘We’ve heard a lot from a small group who don’t support these changes, and now we’re starting to hear from those who do support them,’’ Harvey said.

The review will include meeting with representative groups of parents, a review of the communications and consultation processes and the research presented in support of the change, she said.

It is expected the assessment will take between four to six weeks and will begin shortly.

Member of the Stop Auckland Kindergarten Changes lobby group, Jo Jukes, said they were cautiously optimistic the ‘breather’ and review are ‘‘steps in the right direction’’.

Harvey said they would update stakeholders on the review’s progress at the Association’s AGM on November 30 and in December when it was complete.