Voluntary temporary closures

If your service is unable to operate for a short period of time, you may need to temporarily close your service.

Level of compliance Main audience Other

Required

  • All early learning services
  • Parents, caregivers and whānau

All early learning services must comply with this information in the event of a voluntary temporary closure.

You must notify us

You must notify us if you temporarily close your service. Failure to do so is a breach of the Education and Training Act 2020 and the ECE Funding Handbook.

In your notification, you must state:

  • when the closure will occur
  • the duration of the closure
  • the reason for the closure.

Hospital-based services are exempt from this requirement.

Notification is not required due to a statutory or provincial holiday.

Reasons for closure 

Examples of when your service may close temporarily and voluntarily include:

  • major renovations to service premises or facilities
  • low enrolment or staffing numbers
  • not having a person responsible.

Length of temporary closure

You can temporarily close for up to 3 months. In some circumstances, it may be possible to extend this. You will need to apply through your local Ministry office.

Local Ministry offices

Key things to note

After 1 February 2023, if your temporary closure goes over the agreed amount of time and you have your license cancelled you will need to gain network approval before applying for a new probationary license. Check with your local Ministry office.

Local Ministry offices

Your service will not be eligible to receive funding when it is voluntarily temporarily closed.

We may need to visit your service before it resumes operating and/or once it is operating.

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