Policies and Legislation

I now wish to investigate what policies and legislations are put in place by the government and early childhood education settings in regard to this social issue.

I firstly wish to take a look at the definitions of these two words to gain a better understanding. What is a policy, and what is legislation? A policy can be guidelines, rules, regulations, laws, principles or directions. According to Dodd and Boyd (2000) policies “simply guide our actions” (para. 1). The world in which we live in is full of them. For example, every workplace has policies in place for staff to follow in order to help the business run successfully, schools have policies that explain the way in which they expect their students to behave and often parents set policies for their children within their home environment, such as ‘your room must be tidy before you leave the house’ or ‘there is no pudding until you consume your dinner’. Legislation on the other hand is defined as laws and rules made by the government. The Parliamentary Counsel Office (2013) explains that legislations can also be referred to as acts and regulations. 

Within New Zealand there are a range of different policies that help to enforce positive treatment towards children within our society. Family start and well child/tamariki ora are a few examples of programmes that highly address risk factors associated with child neglect (Ministry of Social Development, 2013).

On Wednesday the 27^th of July 2011, Paula Bennett who is New Zealand’s Minister for social development released the green paper for vulnerable children. According to Plunket (2013) this paper is a discussion document which states “ideas about what the Government could do to improve outcomes for vulnerable children” (para. 2). This document was also designed to give citizens of our society the opportunity to open up discussions and promote their personal thoughts regarding this social issue, submissions could be made a number of ways such as via facebook, email or post. By providing choices for submission, this allowed people to remain anonymous. The green paper was designed to enhance the growth, development and achievement of our nation’s children (Plunket, 2013). Following the process of receiving and analysing over 10,000 submissions a white paper document was released. The white paper was brought out on the 11^th of October 2012, it was based on the submissions sent in from the green paper, as well as “close consultation with key experts in health, justice, education and social services, and what international best practice shows keeps children safe from harm” (“The White” n.d.).   

A few examples of well related legislative acts include the health act which was developed in 1956 and the Children’s young persons and their families act which was later developed in 1989 and amended in 1995. These acts are set in place to try and minimise the maltreatment of vulnerable children in our society. As people abuse, neglect or maltreat children they are breaking these government laws and therefore should be punished. I believe laws are put in place for people to be discouraged from behaving deficiently. (Parliamentary Counsel Office, 2012), (Parliamentary Counsel Office, 2012).

All early childhood education setting teachers are expected to work positively with the children in their care and will have policies in place in regard to this. Within our early childhood education curriculum Te-whariki it states under the well-being sector that children “experience an environment where their emotional well-being is nurtured and they are kept safe from harm” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 15).

 If teachers observe any signs of suspected child abuse or neglect, it is a legal requirement to take action and report findings to either the police or a child protective service such as child help. This is a national organisation that can provide assistance at any time of the day or night. (Child Welfare, n.d.).

“Reporting abuse or neglect can protect a child and get help for a family. It may even save a child's life” (Child Welfare, n.d. para. 1).

To conclude this blog I now wish to briefly explain the anti smacking law. In the year 2009 all New Zealand citizens were asked to vote whether they believe smacking is the way to discipline children. Following this vote the government enforced the anti smacking law, to “make better provision for children so they can live in a safe and secure environment that is free from violence” (Yellow, 2009). I believe this was an excellent decision. My thoughts are that if children are smacked they may begin to think that physical abuse is accepted.

Within my next blog I will continue to explain the impacts child abuse, neglect and maltreatment has on early childhood teachers.