Licensing criteria for kōhanga reo

Kōhanga reo run a total immersion te reo Māori whānau (family) programme for mokopuna (young children) from birth to six years of age to be raised within its whānau Māori, where the language of communication will be Māori.

The operation and decision making of each kōhanga reo are the responsibility of the whole whānau within the guidelines set down by Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board. The trust and the kōhanga reo whānau administer the kaupapa to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the mokopuna and the whānau and to ensure the survival of te reo Māori.

Kōhanga reo are currently chartered to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust and licensed by the Ministry of Education under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008(external link)

The Ministry does not provide guidance for the kōhanga reo licensing criteria. Guidance is available upon request directly from Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust.

Contact – Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust(external link)

A copy of the criteria can be downloaded from the right-hand column.

The licensing criteria were last updated in September 2022.

Te Tāpiringa tuarua : Ngā Mate tino hopuhopu: Paearu HS26 | Appendix 2: Infectious diseases for criterion HS26

Rashes and skin infections

Condition

This disease is spread by...

Early symptoms

Time between exposure and sickness

Exclusion from school, early childhood centre, or work*

Chicken Pox #** Coughing, sneezing and contact with weeping blisters. Fever and spots with a blister on top of each spot. 10-21 days after being exposed. 1 week from appearance of rash, or until all blisters have dried.
Hand, foot and mouth disease Coughing, sneezing, and poor hand washing. Fever, flu-like symptoms - rash on soles and palms and in the mouth. 3-5 days Exclude until blisters have dried. If blisters are able to be covered, and child feeling well, they will not need to be excluded.
Head lice (Nits) Direct contact with an infested person's hair, and less commonly by contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. Itchy scalp, especially behind ears. Occasionally scalp infections that require treatment may develop. N/A None, but ECC/school should be informed. Treatment recommended to kill eggs and lice.
Measles !#** Coughing and sneezing. Direct contact with an infected person. Highly infectious. Runny nose and eyes, cough and fever, followed a few days later by a rash.  7-21 days 5 days after the appearance of rash. Non-immune contacts of a case may be excluded.
Ringworm Contact with infected skin, bedding and clothing. Flat, ring-shaped rash. 4-6 weeks None, but skin contact should be avoided.
Rubella (German Measles) !#** Coughing and sneezing. Also direct contact with an infected person. Fever, swollen neck glands and a rash on the face, scalp and body. 14-23 days Until well and for 7 days from appearance of rash.
Scabies Contact with infected skin, bedding and clothing. Itchy rash. 4-6 weeks (but if had scabies before it may develop within 1-4 days) Exclude until the day after appropriate treatment.
School sores (Impetigo) Direct contact with infected sores. Blisters on the body which burst and turn into scabby sores. Variable Until sores have dried up or 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has started.
Slapped cheek (Human parvovirus infection) # Coughing and sneezing. The virus may be passed from mother to child during pregnancy. Red cheeks and a lace-like rash on body. 4-20 days Unnecessary unless unwell.

Diarrhoea & Vomiting Illnesses

Condition

This disease is spread by...

Early symptoms

Time between exposure and sickness

Exclusion from school, early childhood centre, or work*

Campylobacter !

Cryptosporidium !

Giardia !

Salmonella !

Undercooked food, contaminated water. Direct spread from an infected person or animal. Stomach pain, fever, nausea, diarrhoea and/or vomiting.

Campylobacter 1-10 days

Cryptosporidium 1-12 days

Giardia 3-25 days

Salmonella 6-72 hours

Until well and for 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting.

Cryptosporidium - do not use public pool for 2 weeks after symptoms have stopped.

Salmonella - Discuss exclusion of cases and contacts with public health service.

Hepatitis A ! Contaminated food or water, direct spread from an infected person or animal. Nausea, stomach pains, general sickness with jaundice (yellow skin) appearing a few days later. 15-50 days 7 days from the onset of jaundice.
Norovirus Contact with secretions from infected people. Nausea, diarrhoea and/or vomiting. 1-2 days Until well and for 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting.
Rotavirus ** Direct spread from infected person. Nausea, diarrhoea and/or vomiting. 1-2 days Until well and for 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting.
Shigella ! Contaminated food or water, contact with an infected person. Diarrhoea (may be bloody), fever, stomach pain. 12 hours-1 week Discuss exclusion of cases and their contacts with public health service.
VTEC/STEC !
(Verocytotoxin-or shiga toxin-producing E.coli)
Contaminated food or water, unpasteurised milk. Direct contact with animals or infected person. High incidence of bloody diarrhoea, stomach pain. High rate of hospitalisation and complications. 2-10 days Discuss exclusion of cases and their contacts with public health service.

Respiratory Infections

Condition

This disease is spread by...

Early symptoms

Time between exposure and sickness

Exclusion from school, early childhood centre, or work*

Influenza and Influenza-like illness (ILI) ** Coughing and sneezing. Direct contact with infected person. Sudden onset of fever with cough, sore throat, muscular aches and a headache. 1-4 days (average about 2 days) Until well.
Streptococcal sore throat Contact with secretions of a sore throat. (Coughing, sneezing etc.) Headache, vomiting,sore throat. An untreated sore throat could lead to Rheumatic fever. 1-3 days Exclude until well and/or has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours.
Whooping cough (Pertussis) !#** Coughing. Adults and older children can pass on the infection to babies. Runny nose, persistent cough followed by "whoop", vomiting or breathlessness. 5-21 days Five days from commencing antibiotic treatment or, if no antibiotic treatment then 21 days from onset of illness or until no more coughing, whichever comes first. 

Other Infections

Condition

This disease is spread by...

Early symptoms

Time between exposure and sickness

Exclusion from school, early childhood centre, or work*

Conjunctivitis (Pink eye) Direct contact with discharge from the eyes or with items contaminated by the discharge. Irritation and redness of eye. Sometimes there is a discharge. 2-10 days (usually 3-4 days) While there is discharge from the eyes.
Meningococcal Meningitis ** Close contact with oral secretions. (Coughing, sneezing, etc.) Generally unwell, fever, headache, vomiting, sometimes a rash. Urgent treatment is required. 3-7 days Until well enough to return.
Meningitis - Viral Spread through different routes including coughing, sneezing, faecal-oral route. Generally unwell, fever, headache, vomiting. Variable Until well.
Mumps !** Coughing, sneezing and infected saliva. Pain in jaw, then swelling in front of ear and fever. 12-25 days Exclude until 5 days after facial swelling develops, or until well.

 

*Seek further advice from a healthcare professional or public health service.

**Vaccine-preventable and/or on the National Immunisation Schedule

! Notifiable disease (Doctors notify the Public Health Service)

# Pregnant women should seek advice from their maternity provider or G.P.