Section 10 of the Education and Training Act 2020 defines home-based ECE services as the provision of education or care, for gain or reward, to children who are under the age of 5 years, or who are aged 5 years but not enrolled at school, in:

• the children’s own home or
• the home of the person providing the education or care or
• any other home nominated by a parent of the children.

Education and Training Act 2020, Section 10 – New Zealand Legislation

These services are licensed in accordance with the Education and Training Act 2020 under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, which prescribe minimum standards that each licensed service must meet. Licensing criteria are used to assess how the services meet the minimum standards required by the regulations.

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 – New Zealand Legislation

For each criterion there is guidance to help services meet the required standards.

The publication of the criteria on its own can be downloaded as a PDF and printed.

The licensing criteria were last updated in April 2026.

Until the new criteria come into effect on 20 April 2026, the existing criteria remain in place.

Licensing criteria for home-based ECE services – Ministry of Education