Criterion GMA201#

Parents and whānau are provided with information on how to access the following, in either written or digital format: 

• the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008;   
• the Licensing Criteria for Home-Based Education and Care Services 2008;  
• the most recent Education Review Office report regarding the service;   
• information about any changes to the service’s licence status;   
• the full names and qualifications of each person counting towards regulated qualification requirements;  
• information concerning their child;   
• any fees charged by the service;   
• how they can be involved in the service;   
• the service’s operational documents;   
• any planned reviews and consultation;   
• the amount and details of the expenditure of any Ministry of Education funding received by the service; and  
• a procedure for parents and whānau to follow if they wish to make a complaint about the service. The procedure should include details on who to contact and the contact information for the local Ministry of Education office.  

⚑ For services offering out-of-school care, evidence of:  

• a notice advising parents if the home their child is attending will have children receiving out-of-school care; and   
• parental acknowledgment of the notice. 
  

Guidance#

How to show you are complying#

You need to share with parents and whānau how they can access all the information outlined in this criterion. Depending on the type of information, you can share this in either written or digital format. For example, you might choose to hold a copy of your service’s licence on a parent portal of your website and then advise them how to access a copy of any updates to your licence status in a newsletter.  

You can provide information on how to access the required information:

• as part of a parent welcome or induction pack
• within newsletters
• at regular meetings
• on your website
• within a portfolio for each child.

Service’s complaints procedure#

Complaints will vary from minor to major and may escalate rapidly from one to the other unless they are well managed.

To support a clear and fair complaints process, make sure people know they can contact the regional Ministry of Education office if they have concerns about non-compliance. This summary should outline the key steps and who to contact, including the Ministry’s contact information. A template is available in the tools to help you comply section.

Amounts and details of Ministry funding#

You need to provide parents and whānau with information about how to access information on the funding your service receives form the Ministry of Education and how this has been spent. Make sure any information you give parents about Ministry funding only relates to the individual licence. Do not include details from other licences that are part of your group or association.

Out of school care#

If your home-based service includes care for school-aged children outside school hours, you need to show that you told the parents that their child would be in a home with other children receiving that care — and that the parents understood and acknowledged this. 

Professional practice regarding separated parents/guardians#

If a child attending the service is from a family with separated parents, the Education and Training Act 2020 sets out the right of entry to early childhood education (ECE) services for parents and guardians.

Unless a court order rules otherwise, all parents and guardians are entitled to:

• reports about their child’s participation and learning experiences in ECE
• participate in the opportunities provided by the ECE service to engage with parents
• have access to any official records held at the service about their child’s participation in that service.

It is recommended that services develop a process to help staff understand how to establish a relationship with both separated parents and support open communication. This should include ensuring adults providing education and care are aware of any relevant court orders.