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 – NZ 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 further 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

Chapter 6: Recording Enrolment, Attendance and Absence

A symbol.  Compass.

Overview

Introduction

For funding to be delivered accurately and fairly, the following three records must be maintained:

  • enrolment records
  • attendance records
  • absence records.

There are additional recordkeeping requirements for services offering 20 Hours ECE. These can be found in Chapter 4.

The requirements in this chapter do not apply to hospital-based services. Requirements for hospital-based services can be found in Chapter 3.

 Incorrect records

Services must not state that a child:

  • is enrolled when they are not enrolled or
  • attended when they did not attend.

In the event of a funding claim audit, funding claimed incorrectly will be recovered by the Ministry.

In this chapter

This chapter contains the following topics: