ECE Funding Handbook

Welcome to the ECE Funding Handbook. This handbook is issued under section 548(5) of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Funding of certain services and certified playgroups – NZ Legislation(external link)

The funding paid to licensed services is paid subject to the terms and conditions set out under this handbook and must be complied with. The terms used in this handbook are based in the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.

This handbook is designed to be a 'one-stop-shop' of everything you need to know about early childhood funding, including:

  • the ECE Funding Subsidy
  • 20 Hours ECE funding
  • equity funding
  • the annual top-up for isolated services

This information does not apply to certificated playgroups

The information in the Funding Handbook does not apply to certificated playgroups.

These services should contact their Ministry regional office for further information.

Local Ministry offices

Download the ECE Funding Handbook

If you would like to print a copy of this handbook, refer to the list of downloads in the contents section where you will find downloadable PDF versions of each chapter.

ECE Funding Handbook downloads

8-2 Change of service provider

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  • Introduction
    • This page contains change of service provider (ownership) information for funding purposes.

      Contact your Ministry regional office for further details regarding a change of service provider or for other licensing requirements.

  • Funding for new ownership
    • The new service provider must contact their Ministry regional office so that the change of service provider can be verified.

      Funding payments to the new owners will not be made until the change of service provider has been verified by a Ministry regional office.

  • New bank account
    • If the service will have a different bank account under the service provider, an RS2 Form must be completed by the new service provider of the service and returned to ECE Operational Funding.

      Funding payments will not be made to the new bank account until the RS2 Form has been received by ECE Operational Funding.

      See Section 8-1 for instructions on completing the RS2 Form.

  • Split payments
    • The Ministry will not split payments between parties.

      Any split of funding payments should be negotiated between past and present ownership. Legal and financial advisers should assist negotiations.