About the programme#

The ECE Food Programme provides and will deliver food for up to 10,000 children aged 2 to 5 at eligible early learning services.

The programme will be implemented in 2025 using a staggered approach, until the funding threshold is reached. Implementing in designated ‘waves’ allows for KidsCan to work closely with each service. This way, they can make sure onboarding, kitchen facilities and health and safety requirements are in place before the partnership agreement is signed.

The programme is currently funded until the end of 2026.

KidsCan has more information about the ECE Food Programme

KidsCan – NZ Children's Charity and Charitable Trust

Download a list of early learning services participating in the ECE Food Programme.

Which early learning services are eligible#

The programme aims to reach early learning services with the highest concentration of children who experience socio-economic barriers within the funding and timeframe available. This includes rural and isolated services.

The programme is for children aged 2 to 5. Children younger than 2 years old have dietary needs that are outside the scope of what this programme can safely provide.

Early learning services that are not already part of a KidsCan programme are eligible to be included depending on the below factors.

Early Childhood Education Equity Index#

Eligibility for the programme is determined by a number of factors including socio-economic data from the Early Childhood Education Equity Index (EQI).

The ECE Equity Index uses data from:

• Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI)
• the Ministry of Social Development
• Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust.

The EQI is the most accurate measure we have available to identify children's needs based on socio-economic status.

Find out more about the EQI in early learning and how to apply for an EQI review for your service on Education Counts.

Equity funding

Equity Index Assessment – Education Counts

Service type#

Early learning services that are eligible for the food programme are:

• education and care services that operate on a full-day licence
• Kindergarten
• Te Kōhanga Reo.

Early learning services that are not eligible are:

• hospital-based services, as they receive meals through the hospital
• home-based services, as their locations and numbers of children can be unpredictable
• casual education and care services, as they are not allocated an EQI score and have unpredictable and irregular rolls
• casual services that operate on a sessional licence where no child attends for more than 4 hours a day as children are not there long enough for the lunch programme to be viable.

Kitchen facilities and staffing#

Eligibility also depends on whether you have adequate kitchen facilities, storage space and staff to prepare and serve food.

Funding for kitchen items may be considered if the food programme continues after the end of 2026.

If your service already provides food#

If your early learning service is eligible for the programme and already provides food, you will need to agree that you will not charge families for food for the duration of the programme.

Receiving food through this programme may free up resources for other priorities at your service, such as learning resources, clothing, or lowering fees.

How eligible early learning services are contacted#

KidsCan will contact eligible services directly. Those with the highest concentration of children from low socio-economic status backgrounds will be contacted first.

Your early learning service will be asked if you are interested in being part of the programme. You will also be asked about your kitchen facilities and capacity to prepare food. Your service can choose not to participate.

If your service does choose to participate, you will be asked to sign a partnership agreement adhering to the requirements of the programme.

The funding for this programme is for food and delivery of food only. KidsCan may be able to independently work with some services to provide other items outside of this programme subject to donor and partnership support.