Government tags $16m to drive early childhood technology

The Government will spend $16 million to get more smart technology into the nation's childcare centres and kindergartens.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the money - part of this year's Budget - would be spent over the next four years and used to support a new information and communications technology (ICT) framework for the early childhood sector.

Mr Mallard said ICT in early childhood education was not about "computers for toddlers".

"It is about all the new technologies that influence our lives - from DVDs and interactive multimedia programmes to digital cameras and telephones - and how these can be used to support learning."

The $16 million will be spent on lifting the use of ICT through regional professional development, research projects and the creation of ICT-based resources.

Mr Mallard said research showed children's learning could be enhanced by the effective use of ICT and could help develop early literacy, maths and communication skills.

The framework, called Foundations for Discovery, is intended to provide guidance for effective ICT development and use in the early childhood sector and is not prescriptive or mandatory.

It will still be up to individual early childhood educators to invest in ICT.

Mr Mallard said the $16 million was not for buying a heap of computers and equipment but instead would be spent on developing understanding and processes.

The announcement has been welcomed by the sector.

NZ Childcare Association chief executive Nancy Bell said at the moment ICT was used patchily through centres and the new framework would provide direction and infrastructure.

"Children need to be ICT literate and it also provides good spinoffs across their education."

Act's education spokeswoman Deborah Coddington said the $16 million over four years would mean the 6500 early childhood education providers would receive only about $600 a year.

"It's an election year bribe. It looks like a nice lolly, but in fact it won't do much."