Update on early childhood education initiatives
Network management
The new network management requirements come into effect from Wednesday, 1 February.
Unless excluded, anyone wanting to establish a new licensed early childhood service will need to first apply for and be granted network approval by the Minister of Education.
Network management will help ensure diverse and sustainable early learning provision, that meets the needs of communities, is available across Aotearoa New Zealand.
We want to acknowledge the valuable input we’ve had from many in the sector over the last couple of years to help design and develop network management, in addition to the normal consultation processes.
More detailed information, including on how to apply, is available on Network management for licensed early childhood services.
Consultations
New consultation on proposed changes to ECE Regulations
Online consultation: 30 January to 24 February
The Ministry is consulting on proposed amendments to the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 to:
- enable the licence for an ECE centre to be amended, without requiring an application for network approval, where the service has to permanently relocate because its land has been acquired by the Crown for public works or urban development, and
- clarify that the Secretary can take the network approval provisions into account when deciding whether to amend an existing licence.
The consultation documents are available on the Ministry consultation website(external link).
Online hui: 13 February
An online hui for providers who have questions about the proposals will be held on 13 February.
Anyone interested in attending can register on Early Childhood Services Regulations Consultation | Eventbrite (external link)
Current ECE consultation closing soon
Online consultation: closes on 17 February
The current consultation on additional tranche two proposals and a definition for locally based persons responsible in licensed home-based services closes on 17 February.
The consultation documents are available on Consultation on additional tranche two proposals and proposed definition for locally based persons responsible in licensed home-based services(external link).
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