Section 10 of the Education and Training Act 2020 defines hospital-based education and care service as the provision of education or care to 3 or more children under the age of 6 who are receiving hospital care.

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

ECE services operating from hospital premises that provide education and care to siblings of patients or children of hospital staff or patients are centre-based ECE services, not hospital-based ECE services.

Licensing criteria for centre-based ECE services

Hospital-based 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 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 hospital-based ECE services