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 – New Zealand 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 more 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

1-3 Quick reference directions

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Purpose

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This section is a ‘quick reference’ list of the most commonly searched for topics in the Handbook.

You may find it useful to move this page to the front of your Handbook so that it is easily accessible.

For information on...See ...
20 Hours ECE Chapter 4
Absence rules Section 6-4 to 6-8
Audits and financial statements Chapters 11 & 12

Certificated teacher hours

Section 3-B-2

ECE Funding Subsidy

Chapter 3

  • For teacher-led education and care service

Section 3-B-2

  • For home-based ECE services

Section 3-B-4

  • For parent/whānau-led services

Section 3-C

Enrolment Records Section 6-1
Equity Funding Chapter 10

Quality funding rates/options

 
  • For home-based ECE services
Section 3-B-4 
  • For parent/whānau-led services 
Section 3-C-2 

RS7 Return

Chapter 9

Staff Hour Count Section 3-B-2
Support Grant for Provisionally Registered Teachers (This section removed in April 2015) Section 5-2
Targeted Funding for Disadvantage Chapter 13