Staying connected with preschoolers through Educa

MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax NZ

ONLINE INITIATIVE: Educa director Nathan Li is able to keep in touch with his daughter Nancy's preschool development.

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As a parent of a toddler attending preschool, Nathan Li felt he was missing out on some of his daughter Nancy's most exciting years of development.

Most preschools record children's learning on paper records, which parents can view only occasionally, he says.

"As parents we don't get to see her for the most part of the day, and we felt a little bit disconnected with her life and her learning and growth. Kids change so quickly."

Now through his online application Educa, he can see and comment on four-year-old Nancy's e-portfolio – an online record of her development, including photos and videos, created by teachers at her preschool.

Li developed Educa with input from early childhood teachers and parents, and launched the web application in April last year.

Twenty-two preschools around the country now use it, paying a monthly subscription of less than $2 per child, and Educa has been endorsed as a preferred supplier by the NZ Early Childhood Council, which has a membership of more than 1000 centres.

A recent survey of preschools, teachers and centres found more than 90 per cent were very happy with the product, Li says.

"[With Educa] everything is captured and delivered online. Parents have information immediately."

The web-based nature of the application means authorised users can log in from anywhere, be it work, home or another country.

"We get grandparents living in South Africa and Britain saying it's wonderful being able to feel a part of their grandchildren's progress."

Educa also lets parents engage with preschool teachers and become more involved in their child's development, he says.

For example, if a parent can see videos of their child counting or reading or interacting with other kids, they can easily see the areas or skills they might need help with.

"It gives you all the information to help them in a way you weren't able to before.

"Parents can write in their own learning stories and upload their own photos as well."

Educa also lets preschools easily link and measure children's activities and progress against goals in Te Whariki – the national early childhood education curriculum.

The start-up, which has one other full-time employee and is part of business incubator Creative HQ, aims to break even in the not too distant future, Li says. He hopes the concept will expand into Australia by December.

- © Fairfax NZ News