Licensing criteria for home-based ECE services

Section 10 of the Education and Training Act 2020(external link) defines home-based ECE services as the provision of education or care, for gain or reward, to children who are under the age of 5 years, or who are aged 5 years but not enrolled at school, in:

  • the children’s own home; or
  • the home of the person providing the education or care; or
  • any other home nominated by a parent of the children.

These services are licensed in accordance with the Education and Training Act 2020 under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008(external link), which prescribe minimum standards that each licensed service must meet. Licensing criteria are used to assess how the services meet the minimum standards required by the regulations.

For each criterion there is guidance to help services meet the required standards.

The publication of the criteria on its own can be downloaded as a PDF [PDF, 1.3 MB] and printed.

The licensing criteria were last updated in September 2022.

GMA2 Information provided to parents

  • Criteria
    • Criteria

      Governance Management and Administration criterion 2

      Information is provided to parents about:

      • how they can be involved in the service;
      • any fees charged by the service;
      • the amount and details of the expenditure of any Ministry of Education funding received by the service;
      • any planned reviews and consultation; and
      • if out-of-school care will be provided in the educator’s home while their child is attending.

      Documentation required:

      1. Written information letting parents know:
        • how they can be involved in the service;
        • any fees charged by the service;
        • the amount and details of the expenditure of any Ministry of Education funding received by the service; and
        • about any planned reviews and consultation.
      2.  ⚐ For services offering out-of-school care, evidence of:
        • written notice advising parents if the home their child is attending will have children receiving out-of-school care; and
        • written parental acknowledgement of the written notice.
      Rationale/Intent:

      The criterion is underpinned by the belief that a level of collaboration between parents and adults providing education and care will result in positive outcomes for children. The criterion aims to ensure that parents are well informed about the service's operation and their child's education, and are made aware of the input they are able to have.

      Amended November 2016

  • Guidance
    • Guidance

      Any examples in the guidance are provided as a starting point to show how services can meet (or exceed) the requirement. Services may choose to use other approaches better suited to their needs as long as they comply with the criteria.

      Providing written information to parents could take a variety of forms including:

      • as part of a parent induction pack
      • newsletters
      • website
      • fees schedule
      • annual reports
      • meetings
      • information about any planned reviews and consultation.

      Many services develop regular reporting processes including providing an annual report. Often monthly financial reports are made available. This is a good way to provide information to parents on a regular basis.

      For services offering out-of-school care, the notice could be:

      • in the enrolment form, or 
      • as a separate written notice given to parents, or
      • as an email to the parents

      Parental acknowledgement could be:

      • via a tick box or statement accompanied by the parent’s signature on the enrolment form, or 
      • a copy of the notification that has been signed by the parent, or
      • an email from the parent confirming that they have been notified

      Amount and details of Ministry funding

      Information provided to parents about Ministry funding must be for the licensed service, not consolidated for a home-based service provider that has multiple services.

  • Things to consider
    • Things to consider

      If a child attending a service is from a family with separated parents the Education and Training Act 2020 sets out the right of entry to early childhood education (ECE) services for parents and guardians.

      Unless a court order rules otherwise, all parents and guardians are entitled to:

      • Reports about their child’s participation in ECE and learning experiences
      • Participate in the opportunities provided by the ECE service to engage with parents
      • Have access to any official records held at the service related to their child’s participation in that service.

      Services will need to develop a process which supports staff to ascertain how a relationship between separated parents and the service may be established so that communication channels can be opened. This could include ensuring educators have a copy of the enrolment form so they are clear what any court orders are.

      Related downloads:

      Professional Practice regarding Separated Parents/Guardians [PDF, 181 KB]