Increasing participation
Learn about some initiatives we fund to help more children participate in early learning.
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Early childhood education is not compulsory in New Zealand. But children aged 6 and under benefit from participating in early learning settings, and get a head start on their learning. We are encouraging more young children to participate by funding the initiatives below.
- Engaging Priority Families
- Poipoia te Mokopuna
- Targeted Assistance for Participation
- ECE Demand Stimulation
- Supported playgroups
Engaging Priority Families
The Engaging Priority Families (EPF) initiative is for families with children aged 3–4 years who do not currently regularly attend an early learning service.
EPF is run by community organisations who guide and enable families through ongoing in-home or group session to:
- be more involved in their children’s early learning
- choose an early learning service that is right for them
- support their children when they transition to school.
For more information about the EPF programme, contact the provider and iwi partner in your area or your local Ministry Office.
Northland
Whangārei
Ngāti Hine Health Trust(external link)
Far North District
Auckland
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Manurewa, Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Papakura, Puketāpapa, Whau
Anglican Trust for Woman and Children(external link)
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara-Papatoetoe
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Manurewa, Papatoetoe
Turuki Health Care(external link)
Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Relative Limited(external link)
Henderson-Massey, Whau
Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust(external link)
Massey-Henderson
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Manurewa
Tui Fitz Development Limited
Waikato
Waikato, South Waikato
Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust(external link)
Hamilton
Te Kohao Health(external link)
Bay of Plenty
Whakatāne
Rotorua
Te Pakarito Limited
Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty
Ava Niu Pasifika(external link)
Hawke's Bay, Tairāwhiti
Hastings
Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga(external link)
Tairāwhiti REAP(external link)
Whanganui
He Whānau Manaaki O Tararua Free Kindergarten Association(external link)
Wellington
Porirua, Horowhenua
He Whānau Manaaki O Tararua Free Kindergarten Association(external link)
Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt
Nāku Ēnei Tamariki(external link)
Canterbury
Christchurch
Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi(external link)
Poipoia te Mokopuna
Poipoia te Mokopuna (PTM) is for Māori whānau with tamariki up to 36 months old who do not currently attend an early learning service.
PTM is run by local organisations and iwi partners with strong connections within their rohe. It provides free advice using kaupapa Māori to involve parents in their children’s early learning. PTM includes a mix of in-home and group sessions and is flexible to accommodate different family schedules.
For more information, contact the provider and iwi partner in your area:
Northland
Kaikohe, Whangarei
Ngāti Hine Health(external link)
Kaeo, Mangapa River, Matauri Bay, Kerikeri
Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa(external link)
Auckland
Massey, Ranui, Wider Henderson
Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust(external link)
Māngere, Ōtara, Manukau, Wider South Auckland
Turuki Health Care(external link)
Hamilton
Family Start (Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust)
Te Kōhao Health(external link)
Bay of Plenty
Kawerau
Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau Hauora(external link)
Tauranga, Moana
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi(external link)
Gisborne, Tairāwhiti
Uawa, Tologa Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hastings, Napier, Waipukurau, Central Hawke's Bay
Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga(external link)
Horowhenua
Levin, Taitoko
Muaūpoko Tribal Authority(external link)
Wellington
Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Wainuiomata
Nāku Ēnei Tamariki(external link)
Canterbury
Waimakariri, Selwyn, Christchurch
Te Puawaitanga ki Otautahi(external link)
Otago
Dunedin, Mosgiel, Port Chalmers, Otago Peninsula
Te Hou Ora Whānau Services(external link)
Targeted Assistance for Participation
Targeted Assistance for Participation (TAP) provides funds for the buildings of early learning services in parts of the country where participation rates are low, in order to increase (or in some cases retain) children’s attendance.
TAP has 2 funding options:
- TAP 2: up to $12,000 per child place, or 50% of project costs (whichever is lowest), usually towards new buildings.
- TAP 3: up to $100,000 per project, usually towards building extensions at an existing service.
(TAP 1 is no longer available.)
For more information, contact your local Ministry Office.
ECE Demand Stimulation
The ECE Demand Stimulation initiative funds flexible projects which are responsive to a wide range of community needs. It aims to stimulate demand for early learning and support families to participate.
ECE Demand Simulation funds projects which:
- engages communities in ECE
- identifies non-participating children
- promotes the benefits of early learning
- creates opportunities and pathways to ECE.
For more information, contact your local Ministry Office.
Supported playgroups
Playgroups are an early childhood education option that allows parents, caregivers and whānau to attend alongside their tamariki in a varied learning environment. Supported playgroups are a type of certificated playgroup with requirements for curriculum delivery, parent engagement, and transitions to school. We provide funding for a coordinator to help each supported playgroup meet the requirements and to help with management and administration.
Supported playgroups target Māori and Pacific families and families in low socio-economic geographical areas.
Supported playgroups aim to:
- provide a flexible model which can be adapted to suit a variety of community needs (including rural and isolated communities)
- offer support for parent/caregiver/whānau engagement with their children's learning
- address some of the participation barriers for non-participating families
- respond to communities' language and cultural requirements
- broker relationships with other early learning services and schools
- promote the benefits of early learning, and educate whānau on the different types of learning options available
- offer a low-cost early learning option for whānau.
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