Licensing criteria for home-based ECE services

Section 10 of the Education and Training Act 2020(external link) defines home-based ECE services as the provision of education or care, for gain or reward, to children who are under the age of 5 years, or who are aged 5 years but not enrolled at school, in:

  • the children’s own home; or
  • the home of the person providing the education or care; or
  • any other home nominated by a parent of the children.

These services are licensed in accordance with the Education and Training Act 2020 under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008(external link), which prescribe minimum standards that each licensed service must meet. Licensing criteria are used to assess how the services meet the minimum standards required by the regulations.

For each criterion there is guidance to help services meet the required standards.

The publication of the criteria on its own can be downloaded as a PDF [PDF, 1.3 MB] and printed.

The licensing criteria were last updated in September 2022.

PF2 Premises support effective supervision

  • Criteria
    • Criteria

      Premises and Facilities criterion 2

      The design and layout of the premises support effective adult supervision so that children's access to indoor and outdoor spaces is not unnecessarily limited.

      Rationale/Intent:

      To ensure the children's use of the environment is not unduly restricted by design limitations that make adequate supervision difficult.

       

  • Guidance
    • Guidance

      Any examples in the guidance are provided as a starting point to show how services can meet (or exceed) the requirement. Services may choose to use other approaches better suited to their needs as long as they comply with the criteria.

      Homes are not always designed with small groups of children in mind, and educators need to manage any difficulties presented by the configuration of the premises.

      Supervision is paramount in ensuring children are safe while attending the service.

      As much as possible, the design and layout of homes should not make it too difficult for the educator (as the only adult present) to actively supervise all children attending.

      Any issues with the layout of the premises that limit supervision should be included on the hazard register.