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New version effective 20 April 2026
This is the new version of the licensing criterion and associated guidance.
Criterion GMA108#
An annual budget guides financial expenditure.
Note: this criterion only applies in respect of the Secretary’s assessment of probationary applications where the applicant does not hold a current licence and applications to amend a licence where the different legal entity does not hold a current licence.
Documentation required#
An annual budget setting out the service’s estimated revenue and expenses for the year. The budget includes at least:
- staffing cost, include leave entitlements;
- professional development costs;
- equipment and material costs for the ongoing purchase of new equipment and consumable materials; and
- provision for operational costs (such as electricity, telephone, food purchases and other day-to-day items) and maintenance of the premises as appropriate.
Guidance#
How to show you are complying#
You need an annual budget to cover your first year of running your service if either of these applies to you:
- You are applying for a probationary licence and do not currently run a fully licensed service elsewhere.
- You are a new service provider and have not held a licence before.
Your annual budget needs to outline your service’s estimated costs and revenue for the year ahead. It should clearly state costs for staffing, professional development, equipment and materials as well as operational and maintenance costs you anticipate.
It should also include your expected revenue from different funding sources. For example, income from fees, donations and any optional charges from parents, Ministry of Education subsidy funding, and all other sources of expected income.
