新西兰扩大早期语言教育计划 覆盖幼儿教育机构大幅增加
新西兰扩大早期语言教育计划 覆盖幼儿教育机构大幅增加
2026年7月3日，新西兰教育部长 Erica Stanford 宣布，政府将大规模扩展本土研发的 ENRICH 语言教育项目，以提升幼儿早期语言能力，为入学做好准备。
项目规模扩大至500多家机构
ENRICH 项目将从目前的65家早期儿童教育机构扩展至525家，覆盖18个月至5岁的幼儿群体，帮助他们在入学前提升语言能力与沟通技巧。
Stanford表示，研究显示，教师与幼儿之间的互动质量至关重要，而家庭屏幕时间增加，正与儿童语言发展延迟、亲子互动质量下降及行为问题上升相关联。
她指出，目前部分五岁儿童入学时，其语言能力仍停留在约两岁水平，因此政府必须采取行动加以改善。
试点成效：语言、行为与学习能力全面提升
根据过去一年试点评估结果，参与ENRICH项目的儿童表现出以下改善：
- 口语语言能力更为先进
- 自我调节能力提升
- 消极情绪减少
- 早期读写能力与社交能力增强
通过教师培训提升日常互动质量
该项目为幼教教师提供实用工具与指导，帮助他们在日常游戏与交流中更有效地促进儿童语言发展。
政府表示，越早识别并提供支持，儿童未来的发展成果越好。
政府投资与配套资金
Stanford表示，此次扩展属于政府“让每个孩子拥有最好起点”的政策方向，并由2025年预算提供支持。
相关预算投入包括：
- ENRICH项目投入1,240万纽币
- 早期教育整体投入约2.977亿纽币
- 扩展早期干预服务（EIS）至一年级阶段，并增加专业岗位与教师助理资源
- 为多年未调整价格的服务机构增加资金支持
政策目标
政府强调，该计划旨在提升儿童语言基础能力，从而改善其未来学习表现与社会适应能力，使更多儿童在入学时具备“准备好学习与成长”的能力。
The Government is funding a major expansion of the New Zealand-developed ENRICH programme to help young children build the language skills they need, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
ENRICH will expand from 65 to 525 early childhood education services, supporting children aged 18 months to 5 to strengthen their language skills before they start school.
Ms Stanford says research shows it is imperative to improve teacher-toddler interactions because increasingly high levels of screen time at home are linked to lower-quality parent-child interactions, language delays, and behavioural problems in young children.
“We have seen five-year-old children arriving at school with the language skills of two-year-olds, and we needed to take action,” Ms Stanford says.
Findings from the trial of ENRICH over the past year have shown:
Children in ENRICH show more advanced oral language in post-tests.
Children in ENRICH show more advanced self-regulation.
Children in ENRICH show reduced negative affect, and increased early literacy and social skills.
“Language skills are critical for later educational success. They also play a key role in developing the social and emotional skills that support positive behaviour.
The programme gives early childhood teachers practical tools and coaching to strengthen children’s language through everyday interactions, play and conversation.
“The earlier children are identified and supported, the better their outcomes are likely to be.
“This is about giving every child the strongest possible start, so they arrive at school ready to learn and ready to thrive.
“Budget 25 invested $12.4 million to ensure children in their early years receive the oral language support they need to build strong foundations for the future.”
Rollout and wider investment
The expansion builds on early delivery of ENRICH and will be rolled out in phases as provider capacity grows.
Overall, Budget 25 invests $297.7 million in the early learning sector, including:
$216.6 million operating funding to extend the Early Intervention Service (EIS) into Year 1 and expand it to 560 specialist roles and additional Teacher Aide hours.
$9.4 million capital funding to grow the EIS specialist workforce.
Funding increase for EIS providers that had not had a price increase since 2019.
