CONTENTSFor more information on any of these topics, contact your Ministry regional office.
Licensing
There are legal requirements that must be met to operate any premises as an early childhood service.
Licences are issued to early childhood education services under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 – New Zealand Legislation
Licences set the standards for curriculum, premises and facilities, health and safety, and governance and management of early childhood services.
Certificated playgroups
Certificated Playgroup funding is not covered in this Handbook.
Playgroups do not receive the same level of funding as licensed ECE services.
- Certificates are issued to Playgroups under the Education (Playgroups) Regulations 2008.
Education (Playgroups) Regulations – New Zealand Legislation
- Certificates set the standard for curriculum, ratio, premises and facilities, health and safety practices and administration.
- Funding information and requirements for Playgroups can be found in the Playgroup funding handbook on the Ministry’s website.
Contact your Ministry regional office for more information.
Support for licensing
The Ministry can provide information to help groups set up early childhood education (ECE) services.
Steps for setting up services, useful website links, and other handy resources are available to all groups on the Ministry website. For information about the Early Learning Information System (ELI) or the electronic submission of RS7 returns, please visit Early Learning Information or contact your Ministry regional office for further details.
Early Learning Information (ELI) reports – Applications and Online Systems
How to find legal information
Use the information below to see where you can find copies of the documents referred to in this section.
You can find them on the New Zealand Legislation website or any bookstore that sells government publications.
Education and Training Act 2020
Education and Training Act 2020 – New Zealand Legislation
Education and Training Act 2020, Section 10 – New Zealand Legislation
Education and Training Act 2020, Section 20 – New Zealand Legislation
Education and Training Act 2020, Section 548 – New Zealand Legislation
Education and Training Act 2020, Section 549 – New Zealand Legislation
Education and Training Act 2020, Section 626 – New Zealand Legislation
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 – New Zealand Legislation
