ECE Funding Handbook
Welcome to the ECE Funding Handbook. This handbook is issued under section 548(5) of the Education and Training Act 2020.
Funding of certain services and certified playgroups – New Zealand Legislation(external link)
The funding paid to licensed services is paid subject to the terms and conditions set out under this handbook and must be complied with. The terms used in this handbook are based in the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.
This handbook is designed to be a 'one-stop-shop' of everything you need to know about early childhood funding, including:
- the ECE Funding Subsidy
- 20 Hours ECE funding
- equity funding
- the annual top-up for isolated services.
This information does not apply to certificated playgroups
The information in the Funding Handbook does not apply to certificated playgroups.
These services should contact their Ministry regional office for more information.
Local Ministry offices
Download the ECE Funding Handbook
If you would like to print a copy of this handbook, refer to the list of downloads in the contents section where you will find downloadable PDF versions of each chapter.
ECE Funding Handbook downloads
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1 - 20 of 21 results
for 2024
… certificated teachers
$12.28
$6.47
$11.65
$13.19
$6.92
$12.10
25-49% certificated teachers
$9.91
$5.16
$10.24
$10.82
$5.61
$10.69
0-24% certificated teachers
$8.48
$4.28
$9.33
$9.39
$4.73
$9.78
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
100% certificated teachers
$15.48
$8.99
$14.39
$15.48
$8.99
$15.03
80-99% certificated teachers
$14.87
$8.17
$13.61
$14.87
$8.17
$14.22
50-79%…
… certificated teachers
$12.71
$6.70
$12.06
$13.62
$7.16
$12.52
25-49% certificated teachers
$10.25
$5.34
$10.60
$11.16
$5.80
$11.06
0-24% certificated teachers
$8.77
$4.44
$9.66
$9.68
$4.90
$10.12
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
100% certificated teachers
$16.00
$9.31
$14.89
$16.00
$9.31
$15.55
80-99% certificated teachers
$15.36
$8.46
$14.09
$15.36
$8.46
$14.72
50-79%…
… the previous financial year.
The following table shows an example of financial years and when the information should be sent in.
If your financial year was
You will need to send your financial information to the Ministry by
1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024
June 2025
1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024
June 2025
1 October 2023 – 30 September 2024
June 2025
1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024
June 2025
1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
June 2026
… certificated teachers
$13.77
$7.26
$13.07
$14.68
$7.71
$13.52
25-49% certificated teachers
$11.10
$5.79
$11.48
$12.01
$6.24
$11.93
0-24% certificated teachers
$9.50
$4.81
$10.47
$10.41
$5.26
$10.92
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
100% certificated teachers
$17.25
$10.04
$16.08
$17.25
$10.04
$16.80
80-99% certificated teachers
$16.56
$9.12
$15.22
$16.56
$9.12
$15.90
50…
… certificated teachers
$14.09
$7.47
$13.37
$15.87
$8.36
$14.26
25-49% certificated teachers
$11.32
$5.93
$11.68
$13.10
$6.82
$12.57
0-24% certificated teachers
$9.63
$4.89
$10.63
$11.41
$5.78
$11.52
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
100% certificated teachers
$18.24
$10.53
$16.61
$18.24
$10.53
$17.33
80-99% certificated teachers
$17.63
$9.72
$15.84
$17.63
$9.72
$16.53
50…
… certificated teachers
$10.96
$4.89
$6.39
$11.87
$5.34
$6.84
25-49% certificated teachers
$8.93
$4.20
$5.65
$9.84
$4.65
$6.10
0-24% certificated teachers
$7.79
$3.78
$5.23
$8.70
$4.23
$5.68
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
100% certificated teachers
$14.27
$7.08
$8.49
$14.27
$7.08
$8.86
80-99% certificated teachers
$13.32
$6.08
$7.70
$13.32
$6.08
$8.03
50-79% certifica…
… certificated teachers
$11.35
$5.06
$6.62
$12.26
$5.52
$7.08
25-49% certificated teachers
$9.25
$4.35
$5.85
$10.16
$4.81
$6.31
0-24% certificated teachers
$8.06
$3.91
$5.41
$8.97
$4.37
$5.87
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
100% certificated teachers
$14.74
$7.32
$8.78
$14.74
$7.32
$9.16
80-99% certificated teachers
$13.76
$6.28
$7.95
$13.76
$6.28
$8.29
50-79% certifica…
From 1 October 2024:
The term all employed, in relation to the Minimum Salary Scale for Certificated Teachers, means all certificated teachers who are permanently employed either on a part-time or full-time basis to work in a teaching or management role in the service (i.e., they are working for hire or reward under a contract of service).
The term excludes teachers who are fixed-term or casual employees or teachers employed by a third party and used by services through a contract with the thi…
… certificated teachers
$12.29
$5.48
$7.17
$13.20
$5.93
$7.62
25-49% certificated teachers
$10.02
$4.71
$6.34
$10.93
$5.16
$6.79
0-24% certificated teachers
$8.73
$4.23
$5.86
$9.64
$4.68
$6.31
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
100% certificated teachers
$15.89
$7.89
$9.46
$15.89
$7.89
$9.87
80-99% certificated teachers
$14.83
$6.77
$8.57
$14.83
$6.77
$8.94
50-79% certific…
From 1 October 2024, the term all employed, in relation to the Minimum Salary Scale for Certificated Teachers, means all certificated teachers who are permanently employed either on a part-time or full-time basis to work in a teaching or management role in the service (i.e., they are working for hire or reward under a contract of service).
The term excludes teachers who are fixed term or casual employees or teachers employed by a third party and used by services through a contract with the thir…
… certificated teachers
$12.58
$5.64
$7.33
$14.36
$6.53
$8.22
25-49% certificated teachers
$10.20
$4.83
$6.44
$11.98
$5.72
$7.33
0-24% certificated teachers
$8.85
$4.32
$5.96
$10.63
$5.21
$6.85
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
100% certificated teachers
$16.87
$8.37
$9.95
$16.87
$8.37
$10.37
80-99% certificated teachers
$15.89
$7.33
$9.12
$15.89
$7.33
$9.50
50-79% certif…
… $6.45
$12.20
0-24% certificated teachers
$10.46
$5.31
$11.05
$10.67
$5.41
$11.15
Sessional-100% certificated teachers
$17.34
$8.71
$10.33
$17.55
$8.81
$10.43
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 December 2023
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
100% certificated teachers
$17.97
$10.37
$16.35
$18.53
$10.67
$16.75
$18.53
$10.67
$17.53
80-99% certificated teache…
Table 10: Rates for all day teacher-led home-based ECE services from 1 January 2023.
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2023
Rates from 1 January 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 hours ECE
Quality
$9.41
$5.05
$10.51
$9.91
$5.32
$11.07
Standard
$7.48
$4.05
$9.00
$7.88
$4.26
$9.48
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Quality
$9.91
$5.32
$11.58
Standard
$7.88
$4.26
$9.92
$ per fun…
From 1 January 2024:For standard-funded licences:
60% of educators in a standard funded licence must hold a home-based service qualification.
There are no qualification requirements for the remaining educators.
For quality-funded licences:
80% of educators in a quality funded licence must hold a required qualification.
Up to 20% can either be in induction (first 6 months on the quality licence) or enrolled in training (up to a further 2 years, or 4 years if they are working towards an ECE teac…
… purposes) from 1 January 2023.
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2023
Under 2
2 and over
20 hours ECE
Quality
$13.77
$8.96
$13.17
Standard
$12.56
$8.37
$12.67
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 hours ECE
Quality
$14.50
$9.43
$13.87
$14.50
$9.43
$14.51
Standard
$13.23
$8.81
$13.34
$13.23
$8.81
$13.95
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1…
… playcentres from 1 January 2023.
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2023
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Quality
$10.23
$5.14
$6.38
Standard
$8.95
$4.50
$5.74
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 March 2024
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Under 2
2 and over
20 Hours ECE
Quality
$10.77
$5.41
$6.72
$10.77
$5.41
$7.03
Standard
$9.42
$4.74
$6.04
$9.42
$4.74
$6.32
$ per funded child hour (including GST)
Rates from 1 July 20…
Table 14: Equity Funding rates for eligible services from 1 January 2023.
Equity Funding Rates (including GST)
Rates from 1 January 2023
Rates from 1 January 2024
Rates from 1 January 2025
Equity Funding Component A: Low Socio Economic (per funded child hour)
EQI 1
$1.09
$1.15
$1.17
EQI 2
$0.84
$0.88
$0.90
EQI 3
$0.48
$0.51
$0.52
EQI 4
$0.23
$0.24
$0.24
Equity Funding Component B: Special Needs Funding (per funded child hour)
EQI 1
$0.51
$0.54
$0.55
EQI 2
$0.32
$0.3…
Table 15: Targeted funding for disadvantage rate for eligible services from 1 March 2023.
$ per targeted hour (including GST)
Rate from 1 March 2023
Rate from 1 March 2024
Rate from 1 March 2025
Eligible services
$0.38$
$0.40
$0.41
… 5 credits towards a required qualification at Level 4 or above
[Partial]
1 January 2021
30%
20%
All remaining educators (0-70%)
1 June 2022
50%
20%
All remaining educators (0-50%)
1 January 2023
70%
20%
All remaining educators (0-30%)
1 January 2024
80%
20%
This category no longer applies
^ Educators who do not yet have credits towards a required qualification.
Educators who join a quality funded licence without a completed qualification can only remain in induction for a maximum of 6 mo…
From 1 October 2024:
Hours that count towards an initial salary step
Certificated teachers permanently employed in a teaching role or management position [as per the all employed teacher definition], must be paid at least the applicable salary amounts on the Minimum Salary Scales for Certificated Teachers, according to their qualifications, recognised service and previous relevant work experience for all employed hours. This includes rostered hours, non-contact, staff meetings, paid professiona…
