Starting a centre-based ECE service

You need a licence to run a centre-based early learning service. Read about the application process below.

PlanningBefore you start, do some research. Look through our information to find out everything from what our requirements are to how you can design and build your service. Doing some research will help you make a plan and decide how to carry it out.

In particular, please note that From 1 February 2023, unless excluded, anyone intending to establish a new licensed early childhood service…

You will need to consider what will be the appropriate learning and teaching equipment and resources for meeting the curriculum standards in the regulations, and for:

your philosophy
the range of children who will attend
your community
actively acknowledging the unique place of tangata whenua in the programme
meeting regulated standards.
Visit other ECE services and discuss with teachers the choices available for particular equipment.

Make a list of equipment you plan to get. Many suppliers ha…

Managing is doing the day-to-day things at the service so your long-term plan is achieved. As an example, if you are buying some new books for the children, you are managing.

When you are managing, it is important to make sure you hear and respond to the views and concerns of the coordinator and the educators. It is important the management group does not take over or interfere with the educators’ responsibilities.

Every service is different. In some big services there can be separate governan…

Resource management consentLicensing criterion PF3 requires the premises to conform to any relevant bylaws of the local authority and the Building Act 2004. Resource consent allows a person or group to operate a licensed centre on particular premises. The environmental effects of having an ECE service in the neighbourhood will be considered before resource consent is granted. Sometimes resource consent has to be publicly notified. Consents can be declined or have conditions attached (for example…

Bathrooms – general
Bathrooms need not be institutional. Aim to create a home-like setting. Ideas include using:

warm colours
attractively framed mirrors above the sink(s)
framed children's art work displayed sparingly (without 'over doing' visual stimulation)
posters and signs (used thoughtfully).

Toilet doors
Licensing criterion PF22 and licensing criterion PF20

When designing your bathroom area, talk to your local territorial authority and regional health authority about req…

The aspiration statement and the 4 principles of Te Whāriki underpin all that we do in early childhood education. When providing an enriched environment for children, we must ensure the principles underpin any decisions.

It is vital that educators take opportunities to extend children's thinking and encourage children to have a perception of themselves as explorers – competent, confident learners who ask questions and make discoveries.

Relating equipment to the principles and strands of T…

Before purchasing new equipment or safety surfacing, service providers should ensure that the product has been tested against the specifications of NZS5828:2015 and the manufacturer can supply a certificate of compliance for that product.

ECE services should check with any potential manufacturer/supplier that a certificate of compliance is available before purchase (for example a certificated manufacturer may have added a new piece of equipment to its range since certification and the new produ…

Create a staffing schedule to help you decide how many teachers you will need, and for what hours you will need them. This should be based on anticipated enrolments.  This process will also help you decide how many of these staff must be qualified teachers.
Decide what other staff will need to be employed (for example, cleaner, administration staff, manager, cook, head teacher).
Develop job descriptions. It may be useful to look at job descriptions from other ECE services, where possible.
Decide…

Please note the following:

The title of each record below is a guide only. The required content could be set out under different titles, or grouped differently.
All content is required (unless otherwise stated).
The content that is only required by the Early Childhood Education Funding Handbook only applies if you claim government funding.
If in any doubt about requirements, check the actual wording in the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, Licensing Criteria for Early Child…

KitchensLicensing criterion PF17

A half door with a latch will help to ensure that the kitchen is inaccessible to the children (unless they are accompanied by an adult). Be aware that the 'lift out' style barriers that some services use may create a tripping hazard. This is because adults in a hurry step over them rather than lifting them out.
If a large centre is being designed with separate areas for infants and toddlers, it is a good idea to have a kitchenette in the infant area fo…

The example plan has been designed for you to use and change to suit the needs of your service. Alternatively, you could make your own.

An annual plan allows you to easily tick items off as you go and check progress – for example, at monthly management meetings.  You can ensure that tasks are spread over the year and in the right order.

Remember this is not an exhaustive plan and the headings may or may not suit your service; it is designed to give you some ideas only.

A well-designed ECE service needs space for different types of indoor play, including individual and group activities, messy play, dramatic play, quiet space, eating, sleeping, etc.

Because the interests of children of different ages differ (for example, older babies are often interested in taking things apart and learning to crawl up and over things, while older children can be more focused on building things and putting things together (such as complicated block play or puzzles)), much of the…

This is a suggested list which is by no means exhaustive. Your resources and equipment will grow according to the interests and passions of your children and community.

Books and storytelling
Equipment
Manipulative
Creativity
Painting
Music
Dramatic play
Dough
Clay
Blocks
Carpentry
Nature and science/exploratory
Sand area
Water play
Active play
Adult education
Information and communication technologies

Books and storytellingFurniture
Display units should be low so that children can see and sel…

Staffing schedules support the smooth operation of an ECE service. They ensure that it is clear when staff are responsible for children and when they can take lunch breaks or 'non-contact' planning time, etc. Draft schedules should be developed by newly established services to work out:

how many staff will be needed overall to ensure compliance with the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 (schedule 1);
what hours each shift will need to cover; and
which shifts will n…

Under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Regulations 2018, the final date by which a building owner must make an application to the Fire and Emergency New Zealand for approval of an evacuation scheme for a new building is the earlier of 30 days after:

the code compliance certificate has been issued for the building, or
the date on which the building is first lawfully occupied.
You can make an application to the Fire and Emergency NZ for approval of your scheme as soon as you can complete all th…

This is a suggested list which is by no means exhaustive. Your resources and equipment will grow according to the interests and passions of your children and community.

Furniture
Books and storytelling
Manipulative
Collage
Painting
Music
Dramatic play
Dough
Blocks
Nature and science/exploratory
Sand area
Water play
Active play
Information and communication technologies
Adult education

Furniture

One two-seater soft-sided couch
Depending on the number of infants in the centre you may need to co…

Licensing criteria PF29 to PF31 and licensing criteria PF32 and PF33 (for sessional services and all-day services)

Furniture and items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers, or mattresses) must be of a size that allows children using them to lie flat, and are of a design to ensure their safety.
If they are to be used for more than one child over time, they need to be securely covered with or made of a non-porous material (material that does not allow liquid to pass t…

Check the building for hazards such as lead-based paint and asbestos.
Check the site for any potential hazards – for example, leachate, long-life spray, chemical storage or methane gas build up in landfills.
Contact your regional public health organisation for advice on health issues.

Under the Food Act 2014 (the Food Act) and Food Regulations 2015, if you provide food at your ECE centre or kōhanga reo, it must be safe and suitable. The Food Act applies to anyone who provides food as part of their business. It requires people to provide food that is safe and suitable to eat.

Depending on what type of food you provide, you may need to register and operate under a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) National Programme level 2. 

Working with a national programme is the way t…

Children's lockers
Allow plenty of space for children's belongings. Consider how you can provide children with access to their belongings that allows them to take some responsibility for their things, including choosing what to wear throughout the day. It is important to remove anything that may be harmful to children, for example medicines.
Think about places for storage of infants’ things. Infants' lockers are often placed near the nappy changing area so that spare clothes are c…