Need-to-know | Me mātua mōhio#
1 July changes to pay parity scheme#
Information on the recent changes to the pay parity scheme can be found at:
Pay parity opt-in scheme for education and care services
From 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2027, education and care (including hospital-based) services that have opted into the pay parity scheme will be able to determine the initial salary step for newly certificated teachers and certificated teachers who are new to working in the New Zealand ECE sector.
These services are required to pay at least step one of the minimum salary scales but will no longer need to consider higher qualification groups, previous relevant work experience and recognised service when determining the initial salary step for the teachers described above.
Once a newly certificated teacher has worked any number of hours as a certificated teacher while directly employed by a licensed early childhood service or kindergarten, they are no longer defined as a newly certificated teacher.
This change does not affect the requirement for services to progress teachers up the salary scales as they complete the specified hours of work.
Existing pay agreements with teachers will still need to be honoured. This means currently employed certificated teachers should not be affected by the change. This change and the moratorium will also not affect the existing funding rates that services receive.
See the ECE Funding Handbook for the definition of a newly certificated teacher or a teacher that is new to working in the New Zealand ECE sector.
Heads-up | He kupu puaki#
Winter illness: Absences and closure settings#
As winter illnesses increase in our communities, we thought it was timely to remind you of the funding setting in the ECE Funding Handbook that will support you with child absences.
Funding can only be claimed for the absence of a permanently enrolled child if the situation falls within one of the following absence rules:
6-5 Three-week rule for continuous absence
Permanently enrolled children with special needs or health problems may be exempt from the frequent absence rule or funded for continuous absences beyond the three-week period. This could include a child absent for more than three weeks due to a respiratory illness.
To access this exemption, an EC13 form needs to be completed by a medical practitioner. We are aware that in previous years we allowed a parent or guardian to complete this form but this year this will not be the case.
Emergency closure funding
A reminder that changes were made in 2024 to the emergency closure settings.
Emergency closure funding can be requested when services are unable to operate because they cannot meet minimum staffing requirements due to a high number of staff, or an educator, being unwell with an infectious disease.
You will need to consider alternative options before emergency closure funding is approved, including reducing hours of operation or the number of children attending.
In a home-based service where an educator is not able to provide education and care due to an infectious illness, services can apply (using the EC30 HB form) to their local Te Mahau offices for emergency closure approval to use absence funding in these instances. If approved, then normal absence funding rules apply.
If your service is facing operating issues because staff or educators are unwell with an infectious disease, contact your local Te Mahau office:
You may need to provide evidence relating to staffing issues before emergency closure funding is approved. The type and level of evidence required will depend on the context of the situation.
July funding now available in Pourato#
Earlier this week, all early learning service provider funding contacts should have received an email with their link to Pourato, our new online funding system for early learning services. July funding has been paid this week, and the funding information is now available to view in Pourato. Pourato replaces most of the funding notices on the secure data portal (SDP).
If you haven’t received an email with a link to Pourato, contact us.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0800 323 323
To help you navigate and use Pourato, we have published a visual guide with screenshots and annotations, a video demonstration, and answers to common questions on the Pourato for Early Learning website.
Pourato training and guides – Applications and Online Systems
Pourato online drop-in sessions
We’re currently holding online drop-in sessions to answer questions about Pourato. If you have a question or need some help, join one of the session times below. There is no need to register.
Thursday 3 July, Friday 4 July, 2pm to 2.30pm – Microsoft Teams
Thursday 3 July, 6pm to 6.30 pm – Microsoft Teams
Daily, Monday 7 July to Friday 11 July, 9am to 9.30am – Microsoft Teams
