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ECE teachers ‘broken’ over non-payment

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Promotions Manager

SARA HOLLYMAN

A local group of home-based early childhood educators have been left ‘broken’ and forced to borrow money after the provider they worked for stopped paying and blocked contact with them. The group of at least 16 homebased educators were working for Little Red Fox ECE, which operates across Blenheim, Nelson and Golden Bay. The company is owned by the president of New Zealand HomeBase Childcare Association, Bethany Fox.

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Home-based educator Bethany Green has made her career out of looking after children in her home and says she is disappointed and has had “some pretty low days” due to the breakdown in relations with Little Red Fox.

She says she moved to Little Red Fox almost three years ago.

“I chose Little Red Fox because it was a smaller business that was sorted and it was good for a wee while, but this year’s been rubbish.”

Another educator who asked not to be named, says the group were offered a range of excuses for the missed pay days.

“We got a new excuse every time, first it was public holidays, then it was being missed from a batch payment. Then it was her [Bethany’s] bank was too small to deal with all of our pays.

“The best one was ‘no guys it’s your banks, they are holding the payment’.”

She says Bethany Fox always reassured them with an excuse.

Then, during the last few weeks before their exit, it got worsenobody got paid at all. However, Bethany Fox disputes the missed pays, saying that never happened.

“Let me make it clear that all home-based staff received all monies when due to them for each and every pay period and

“I had to borrow money to pay my mortgage. My friend, her granddaughter has just been born and she can’t go to meet her because she can’t afford it.

“She didn’t come to us and say, ‘I’m in a hole, I need help’. She’s similar situation with Porse.

“I love working with my little people, but at the end of the day we’ve all got mortgages and bills to pay.”

The unnamed educator says the whole experience left her and

Marlborough Weekly understand that management were not aware there were issues and were in the same boat as the educators.

Ministry of Education Hautū (leader) Te Tai Runga (South), Nancy Bell says the ministry is aware of issues raised by two staff members of Little Red Fox.

“We have received a complaint and the matter is currently under investigation.”

She says the Ministry has a role to investigate matters of non-compliance with the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 and associated Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services.

The educators say the real “kick in the guts” is that Bethany Fox remains the president of New Zealand HomeBase Childcare Association.

The pair say they even took to posting on the association’s Facebook page as a last-ditch attempt to get Bethany to make contact

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