Changes for home-based ECE – Conversation space

Here’s a summary of the main changes that have been decided:

Qualifications

In the future, the Government is moving towards all educators holding at least a Level 4 ECE qualification, or Te Ara Tuarua (the level 5 kōhanga reo qualification). This is because qualifications are linked to positive outcomes for children.

The Government will encourage the shift towards employing a qualified workforce by lifting the funding criteria over time.

Find out more about qualifications.

Strengthen key roles

New requirements will be introduced for service providers, including health and safety training and professional development for educators.

Police vetting will be required for all adults who live and/or may be present in the home.

The role of the teacher-qualified coordinator will be strengthened. So too will the oversight role of the Education Review Office (ERO).

Find out more about strengthening key roles.

Further work on targeting funding

To support quality for all children in home-based ECE, the Ministry will undertake further work with the sector on funding and regulations.

This work will consider funding for disadvantage and whether service providers should be required to pass on some of the subsidy funding to educators. It will also consider gradually reducing the difference in funding rate between children who are under two and older children.

New requirements will also be considered that would make funding more transparent for parents and educators, and for the government, as part of finalising the Early Learning Strategic Plan.

Find out more about work on targeting funding.