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What is a playgroup?
The Education and Training Act 2020 (The Act) allows for the service provider (organiser) of a playgroup to be an individual or a group of people. In many cases this will be a parent or groups of parents.
The Act defines a playgroup as a group that meets on a regular basis to facilitate children’s play and in respect of which:
- no child attends for more than 4 hours on any day, and
- more than half the children attending on any occasion have a parent or caregiver present in the same play area at the same time.
This ensures playgroups have a high ratio of adults present while children are learning. It also limits the length of time a child can attend on any 1 day to 4 hours maximum.
What playgroups are for
The main aim of a playgroup is to provide a learning environment that is varied and responsive to the interests and learning needs of individual children. In addition to providing ECE opportunities for children, playgroups provide an informal support network for parents. Playgroups encourage and support parents to learn about the education needs of children and acknowledge the significance of their role in their child’s early education.
Types of playgroups
There are many different types of playgroups in New Zealand. Some have a primary focus on maintaining culture, language or philosophical approaches, such as ngā puna kōhungahunga (Māori language playgroups), Pasifika, Montessori or Steiner playgroups.
Establishing a certified puna kōhungahunga (Māori language playgroup)
Some playgroups operate in rural areas and may only have 1 session per week, while others may run up to 5 mornings a week. A playgroup may be the only facility in an area that focuses on early childhood education.
Playgroups are the only ECE service that are certified rather than licensed. This means that there are fewer regulatory requirements that need to be met.
Funding for playgroups
To receive funding and support from the Ministry of Education, playgroups are required to be certified.
Certification is optional and it is possible for playgroups to operate without a certificate. However, if a playgroup is not certified it will not receive funding and support from the Ministry of Education even though it must operate within the definition of a playgroup in the Education and Training Act 2020.
Difference between a playgroup and other ECE options
So, what is the difference between a playgroup and other ECE options such as early childhood education and care centres, playcentres and kindergartens?
There are 2 main types of ECE service – teacher-led and parent-led. All teacher-led services and parent-led services other than playgroups are licensed.
