NZ childcare & ECE FAQs

Children can attend licensed ECE services from birth. There is no minimum starting age. Most services accept children from 3 months old, though some have their own minimum age policies. Contact individual services to confirm.

ECE is not compulsory. School attendance becomes compulsory from age 6. However, the government encourages ECE participation and provides funding (including 20 Hours ECE for eligible 3–5 year olds) to support access.

Requirements vary by service but typically include: your child's birth certificate or passport, proof of address, immunisation records or exemption, and an emergency contact form. Some services also ask for a healthcare plan if your child has specific needs. Contact the service directly for their enrolment checklist.

Settling-in periods vary widely by child and service. Many services encourage parents to stay with their child for the first few sessions and gradually reduce their presence over days or weeks. Some children settle quickly; others may take several weeks. Services usually have a settling-in policy — ask about it when enrolling.

A licensed ECE service has been assessed by the Ministry of Education as meeting the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 and the licensing criteria. Licensing covers teacher qualifications, adult-to-child ratios, health and safety, and curriculum requirements. All services listed on FernHub are licensed.

ERO (Education Review Office) is an independent government agency that reviews ECE services and schools. ERO reports assess the quality of teaching, care, and management. You can find reports for individual services at ero.govt.nz by searching the service name. Reports are published under a Creative Commons licence — ERO allows you to read them but not reproduce them.

20 Hours ECE is a government-funded scheme that provides up to 20 hours per week (maximum 6 hours per day) of early childhood education at no charge for eligible 3–5 year olds. It is available at licensed ECE services that have opted in to the scheme.

Children aged 3–5 years who are New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, or hold certain visa types (including some work visas and student visas). Eligibility is confirmed at enrolment. Contact the Ministry of Education or your chosen ECE service to verify eligibility for your specific situation.

Services cannot charge parents directly for the funded 20 hours. They can charge for: hours attended beyond 20 per week, food and consumables, uniforms or clothing, and optional activities. Each service sets its own fees for extras — always ask for a full fee schedule before enrolling.

From the first day of the term following your child's 3rd birthday, or from their 3rd birthday if the service agrees to a mid-term start. The hours stop when your child turns 6 or starts school, whichever comes first.

No. Participation is voluntary for services. Most licensed services do participate, but some — particularly private services — do not. You can filter by '20 Hrs ECE' on FernHub's find page or look for the green badge on service profiles to identify participating services.

Yes. The Childcare Subsidy (administered by Work and Income NZ) may help eligible families with the cost of ECE beyond the funded hours, or at services that do not participate in 20 Hours ECE. Eligibility is income-tested. Visit workandincome.govt.nz for current rates and criteria.

Childcare centres (Education & Care Services) typically offer full-day care for children aged 0–5 and operate year-round. Kindergartens generally offer sessional programmes (a few hours per day) for children aged 3–5 and often follow school term dates. Both are licensed and subject to the same curriculum framework (Te Whāriki).

Home-based care is provided by an educator in their own home or the child's home, for up to four children at a time. Educators are supported by a licensed coordinating organisation. It can suit families who prefer a smaller, home-like environment.

Kōhanga Reo (language nest) is a Māori language and culture immersion programme for tamariki (children) aged 0–5. It is whānau-led and aims to revitalise te reo Māori. There are also Puna Reo (Pasifika language nests) operating under similar principles for Pacific languages.

Playcentre is a parent cooperative where parents and caregivers learn alongside their children aged 0–6. Parents take turns supervising sessions and are supported to gain an early childhood qualification through the Playcentre pathway. Sessions are play-based and parent-led.

All licensed ECE services follow Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum. Te Whāriki is a bicultural curriculum that emphasises belonging, wellbeing, exploration, communication, and contribution. Individual services implement it in their own ways.

Ratios are set by the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 and vary by service type and children's ages. For example, for children under 2 in a centre, the ratio is 1 adult to 5 children. For children aged 2 and over, it is 1:10 in a centre (with at least half the adults being qualified teachers). Home-based educators can care for up to 4 children. Check the Ministry of Education website for full current ratios.

Children of parents on many temporary work visas are eligible for 20 Hours ECE and can attend licensed ECE services. Eligibility depends on the specific visa type. Contact your chosen ECE service or the Ministry of Education to confirm eligibility based on your visa.

Yes. Kōhanga Reo operates in te reo Māori. Puna Reo and Leo o Fanau Moana operate in Pacific languages including Samoan, Tongan, and Cook Island Māori. Some bilingual and multilingual centres also operate in other community languages. FernHub's service types include these options.

The Childcare Subsidy is available to eligible New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and some visa holders. Eligibility is income-tested and depends on your visa status. Work and Income NZ administers the subsidy — visit workandincome.govt.nz or call them directly to check your eligibility.

The Ministry of Education provides specialist support for children with additional learning needs through the Early Intervention Service. This can include speech-language therapy, resource teachers of learning and behaviour, and other specialist support. Ask your ECE service or contact the Ministry of Education's early intervention team to find out what support may be available.