Increasing participation
Learn about some initiatives we fund to help more children participate in early learning.
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Inform
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Early childhood education is not compulsory in New Zealand. However, children aged six 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
- Further information
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/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/iwi partner in your area or your local Ministry Office.
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Region |
Town/suburb |
Provider/iwi partner |
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Northland |
Whangārei |
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Far North District |
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Auckland |
Māngere- Ōtāhuhu, Manurewa, Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Papakura, Puketāpapa, Whau |
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Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara-Papatoetoe |
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Māngere- Ōtāhuhu, Manurewa, Papatoetoe |
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Maungakiekie-Tamaki |
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Henderson-Massey, Whau |
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Massey-Henderson |
Taulanga U |
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Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Manurewa |
Tui Fitz Development Limited |
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Waikato |
Waikato, South Waikato |
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Hamilton |
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Bay of Plenty |
Whakatane District |
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Rotorua |
Te Pakarito Limited |
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Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty |
Ava Niu Pasifika |
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Hawkes Bay |
Hastings |
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Gisborne |
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Whanganui |
Whanganui |
He Whānau Manaaki O Tararua Free Kindergarten Association(external link) |
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Wellington |
Porirua, Horowhenua |
He Whānau Manaaki O Tararua Free Kindergarten Association(external link) |
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Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt |
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Canterbury |
Christchurch City |
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/iwi partner in your area:
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Region |
Town/suburb |
Provider/iwi partner |
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Northland |
Kaikohe, Whangarei |
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Kaeo, Mangapa River, Matauri Bay, Kerikeri |
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Auckland |
Massey, Ranui, Wider Henderson |
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Māngere, Ōtara, Manukau, Wider South Auckland |
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Hamilton |
Hamilton |
Family Start (Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust) |
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Hamilton |
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Bay of Plenty |
Kawerau |
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Tauranga, Moana |
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Gisborne |
Uawa, Tologa Bay |
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Hawke's Bay |
Hastings, Napier, Waipukurau, Central Hawke's Bay |
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Horowhenua |
Levin, Taitoko |
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Wellington |
Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Wainuiomata |
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Canterbury |
Waimakariri, Selwyn, Christchurch |
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Otago |
Dunedin, Mosgiel, Port Chalmers, Otago Peninsula |
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 two 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/caregiver/whānau 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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