The Ministry of Education is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the early learning regulatory system (the Review). We want to make sure the system is clear and fit for purpose to support high quality educational outcomes for our youngest learners. The Review is being completed in three tranches to ensure high priority issues are actioned first.
For more information about the Review, please visit Early Learning Regulatory Review — education.govt.nz
From 30 January to 27 February 2023, we consulted on some consequent further changes. The proposed amendments to the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 will:
You can find the consultation document and summaries below.
On 2 June 2022, we finished consultation on the priorities for network management and the policy for new network management regulations. The consultation documents and feedback can be found below. More information about the network management arrangements can be found on Network management for licensed early childhood services – education.govt.nz
Network management public consultation document [PDF, 2MB]
Consultation feedback report [PDF, 528KB]
The new requirements for seeking network approval can now be found Network management for licensed early childhood services - Education.govt.nz.
Changes to minimum qualifications for educators in home-based ECE services commenced on 1 June 2022. These changes are outlined in Clause 4 of the Education (Early Childhood Services) Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2021 (the Amendment Regulations).
Consultation on the changes was carried out from 27 August to 27 September 2021. The proposals were generally well supported from the 156 survey responses and 10 written submissions received. You can read a summary of consultation feedback in the consultation report.
More information about these proposed changes can be found in the consultation document [PDF, 675KB]. A summary of the information is also available in the te reo Māori summary document [PDF, 636KB] and English summary document [PDF, 364KB].
Consultation on options to regulate for 80% qualified teachers and proposals to strengthen the person responsible requirement in teacher-led centres and hospital-based services was held from 8 September to 22 October 2021.
The proposals were generally well supported from the 218 survey responses and 34 written submissions received. We also heard feedback from a group of ECE teachers, Pacific services in Auckland and the Sector Advisory Group earlier this year. A summary of the consultation feedback can be found here.
We have provided advice to the Minister based on this updated consultation feedback and will provide further updates once decisions have been made.
More information about these proposed changes can be found in the 2021 consultation document [PDF, 862KB]. A summary of options to regulate for 80% qualified teachers is also available in the summary documents in the languages below:
We have provided advice to the Minister based on updated consultation feedback on the proposals to strengthen the role of the person responsible for home-based services. We will provide further updates once decisions have been made.
More information about these proposed changes can be found in the 2021 consultation document. A summary is also available in English and te reo Māori. Consultation closed on 22 October 2021.
If you have any questions or suggestions about the Review, please email Earlylearning.Regulatoryreview@education.govt.nz.