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The Government has recently announced that there will be a five-year transition to a fully-qualified home-based workforce.

Qualification requirements will be gradually lifted over the next five years, leading to a single quality rate from 1 January 2025 and a requirement for 80% of educators to hold a required qualification by 1 January 2025.

A required qualification is a grand-parented Level 3 ECE qualification, a Level 4 or higher ECE qualification, Te Ara Tuarua or higher, or a primary teaching qualification.

Changes to the quality rate

From 1 January 2021, home-based services on the quality rate must have at least 30% of educators holding a required qualification. This will increase over time until it reaches 80% qualified on 1 January 2024.

Changes to the standard rate

The minimum requirements for the standard funding rate will change as well. From 1 January 2022, 10% of educators in a standard funded home-based service must hold a required qualification.

The standard rate requirements will be gradually lifted until January 2025, when the standard rate will be removed altogether.

Find out more about the qualification requirements

Support for the transition to a qualified home-based workforce

The Government is providing assistance to support the transition to a fully-qualified educator workforce.

Visiting teacher support payments will be available for home-based services on the standard rate with educators completing the Level 4 ECE qualification.

Fees assistance will be available to eligible educators studying towards a Level 4 ECE qualification who are not eligible for fees free.

Find out more about the support available

Read the answers to frequently asked questions