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Health assessment report – National Public Health Service#
Health assessments are carried out by the National Public Health Service to make sure your service meets relevant regulations and licensing criteria.
The health assessment report needs to be submitted with your probationary licence application.
The main aspects of a health assessment are:
- illness policies and methods of controlling the spread of disease
- nappy-changing procedures and bathroom hygiene
- general cleaning schedules and upkeep of the service
- checking that ventilation is up to standard
- checking that noise levels are safe.
Contact the National Public Health Service in your region to organise a time for a health assessment visit.
National Public Health Service – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Preparing for the health assessment
The building code compliance, and your policies, procedures and processes need to be completed before the assessment so the National Public Health Service can complete their checks.
For building code compliance information, see the building code section on this page.
For information about developing policies, procedures and processes, see below.
Preparing policies, procedures and processes
The assessment visit must be carried out when the centre is 'ready for children'. That is when all resources, furniture and equipment are set up for both indoor and outdoor play.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has information about health assessments for early learning services, including:
- health assessment guidelines
- cleaning and sanitising guidelines
- wash down guidelines
- illness guidelines
- an infectious illnesses poster.
Early learning service health assessments – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Fire evacuation scheme approval – Fire and Emergency New Zealand#
An evacuation scheme is a plan for evacuating your premises in a reasonable time in the event of a fire or fire alarm.
A building that needs a fire evacuation scheme is called a 'relevant building'. Buildings or part-buildings used for early learning and care centres (other than household units) are relevant buildings, so need to have a fire evacuation scheme approval.
Early childhood services buildings must have an approved evacuation scheme before we can grant a probationary licence. The approved evacuation scheme needs to be submitted with your probationary licence application.
See the fire evacuation licensing criterion.
Who is responsible for the evacuation scheme
It is the building owner's responsibility to provide and maintain an evacuation scheme. The obligation to maintain an evacuation scheme is ongoing. Making changes to the building may require the building owner to review the evacuation procedures and apply for approval of a new evacuation scheme.
If your service is in a building with other tenants, the fire evacuation scheme approved by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) applies to the whole building and all tenants. It does not just apply to your service.
When to make an application for approval
Under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Regulations 2018, a building owner must make an application to FENZ for approval of an evacuation scheme:
- in the case of a new building, before (but not earlier than 30 working days before) the date on which the relevant building is first lawfully occupied, or
- in the case of an existing building, before (but not more than 30 working days before) the date on which the building or part of the building becomes a relevant building.
Regulations for evacuation schemes – Fire and Emergency New Zealand
The FENZ website includes a guide to completing applications, and an example of a completed application for approval of a scheme for a childcare facility.
Evacuation Schemes – Fire and Emergency New Zealand
If you have questions before you make your application, contact the FENZ Fire Information Unit.
Freephone (NZ only): 0800 347 346
Email: [email protected]
Time to process an evacuation scheme application
Assessments are completed within 20 working days. When it's approved you'll receive an email and guidance on maintaining your evacuation scheme.
If the assessment has anything missing, you will receive an email advising that your application is incomplete or not approved with your assessment letter attached. The assessment letter will reference which questions have missing information or require clarification and will provide guidance to help you complete the application. This will extend the time to assess your application.
FENZ has more information about the application process.
Apply for an evacuation scheme approval – Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Evacuation schemes for premises above the ground floor
In the event of a fire, it may be more difficult to evacuate children from centres that are not at ground floor level. Your fire evacuation scheme will need to identify ways to mitigate this.
See the 'Centres above the ground floor' section on the below page for more information.
National food safety programme registration – Ministry for Primary Industries#
Under the Food Act 2014 and Food Regulations 2015, if you provide food at your early childhood service or kōhanga reo it must be safe and suitable. The Food Act applies to anyone who provides food as part of their business.
Food Act 2014 – New Zealand Legislation
Food Regulations 2015 – New Zealand Legislation
Working with a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) National Programme is the way that lower- and medium-risk food businesses operate under the Food Act.
There are 3 levels of national programmes, which are based on the food safety risk of the activities a business does.
All national programmes require:
- record keeping showing that you are selling safe food
- registration of business details with your local council
- one or more visits from a verifier recognised by MPI.
What services have to register with the MPI National Programme#
Depending on what type of food your early learning service provides, you may need to register and operate under a national programme.
Early learning services or kōhanga reo that cook meals or prepare food – like sandwiches or salads – need to register under National Programme 2.
The Ministry for Primary Industries website has information about the National Programme and who needs to register.
Early childhood educators and kōhanga reo – MPI
They have an online tool called 'my food rules' to help you identify the requirements for your business to follow.
Exempt services#
Services that are not required to operate under the MPI National Programme include:
- home-based early learning services
- centre-based early learning services and kōhanga reo that undertake minimal food handling only, for example provide cut fruit, crackers and spreads, packet biscuits
- where food preparation is part of the curriculum, such as baking and cooking done with children
- where food is donated or brought by families to share
- where children bring a lunchbox.
If your service is exempt from the national programme, you still need to make sure any food at your service is safe and suitable. MPI have resources available on food safety.
Food Act 2014 requirements – Ministry for Primary Industries
Registering for National Programme 2
If your early learning service or kōhanga reo is subject to National Programme 2, you must register with your local council.
You need to register once you have received your early childhood service probationary licence.
Steps to register are outlined on the MPI website. It has details about:
- how to register
- finding a verifier
- how to keep food safety records
- getting checked.
If you run several early learning services, you can complete a multi-site registration with MPI. If you intend to do this, contact MPI.
Freephone (NZ only): 0800 00 83 83
Email: [email protected]
Once you have registered your early learning services and have been operating for approximately 1 month, your chosen verifier will arrange a time to visit. There will be a charge for this initial verification visit.
See the relevant regulation and licensing criteria.
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, Regulation 45 – New Zealand Legislation
