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

12-4 Auditing financial reports

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  • Auditor must not also prepare statements
    • A service’s general purpose financial statements or special purpose financial report may be prepared by an accountant, financial advisor or other person who is associated with the service's management group. The person or entity that carries out the audit must be independent of that group.

      The person or entity preparing or compiling the general purpose financial statements or special purpose financial report cannot also audit the statements or report.

  • Basic elements of audit report
    • Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) sets the auditing standards and members can obtain information from their website. In broad terms the basic elements of an audit report are the following:

      1. The formal name and status (such as charitable trust or incorporated society) of the reporting entity.
      2. An introductory paragraph identifying the accounting policies used.
      3. A statement indicating to the reader that it is the service's management group and not the auditor who is responsible for the preparation of the financial report.
      4. A paragraph indicating that the auditor is responsible for expressing an independent opinion on the financial statements. The auditor should also disclose whether he or she has any personal or professional interests/relationships with the centre other than as auditor.
      5. A brief explanation of the audit process and what the auditor has done to be able to give an opinion.

      The audit report must be signed and dated by the auditor.

  • Warning
    • Services must send their audit reports to the Ministry along with their audited general purpose financial statements or audited special purpose financial report.

      Reports on ‘targeted’ funding (i.e. Equity Funding, ATIS and Targeted Funding for Disadvantage), form part of the financial statements and must be audited.

      Services may have their funding withheld if they fail to meet the audit requirements.