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 – New Zealand Legislation

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. Instead, refer to the Playgroup funding handbook.

Playgroup funding handbook

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

Regional offices

Download the ECE funding handbook

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