Changes to educator qualification and person responsible requirements for licensed home-based ECE services
The Associate Minister of Education, Hon David Seymour, has announced that the Government intends to change the early learning regulations to provide regulatory relief for licensed home-based ECE services. This announcement can be found here:
Home-based ECE care made easier – Beehive.govt.nz
Change to educator qualification requirements
The Government intends to change the qualification requirement that was due to take effect from 1 January 2025 that would have meant home-based ECE services needed to have at least 80% of their educators qualified, with the rest in training.
The change will mean home-based ECE services must have all their educators either holding a home-based service qualification or be working towards the qualification, instead of meeting a minimum proportion of qualified educators in their service.
This change will reduce the inflexibility and compliance burden that the current requirements pose for home-based ECE services, while also maintaining quality education and care.
Change to person responsible requirement
The Government also intends to change the regulations so that person(s) responsible in home-based services can work across more than two licensed services per month.
This change will give services more flexibility and reduce their administration and costs.
Next steps
The Government intends that these changes take effect by the end of 2024.
Until the changes are in place, the current regulations and funding handbook requirements apply for licensed home-based ECE services.
We will update you through this bulletin.
Calendar of ECE funding key dates updated for 2025
Key dates for ECE funding in 2025 have now been published on the Education website. A pdf version of the key funding dates is also available to download from the website.
Key dates and forms for early learning funding – Ministry of Education
Heart Foundation professional development for ELS
The Heart Foundation and Community Oral Health Service are running a workshop for centre managers and kaiako on oral health.
There are two online workshops to choose from:
• Tuesday 19 November 1.30pm – 2.30pm and
• Wednesday 20 November 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Register here:
Professional development for early learning staff – Heart Foundation
