Early Learning Regulatory Review
The Ministry of Education began a comprehensive review of the early learning regulatory system in 2020. The review’s purpose was to ensure that the regulatory system was clear and fit for purpose to support high quality educational outcomes for our youngest learners. It was also designed to enhance the Ministry’s role as regulator and steward of the system.
The Review was planned to be done in three tranches.
Tranche 1 The main aim of tranche 1 was to address some of the immediate gaps in our current system including those that pose a risk to children’s health, safety and wellbeing. The final regulations for tranche 1 were announced on 14 July 2021.
The changes in this tranche mostly impact new early learning services, service providers that have a change in circumstance and services that have compliance issues.
Tranche 2 Tranche 2 covered more complex areas that require more policy work. This includes addressing several commitments in the Early Learning Action Plan 2019–2029 and the Review of Home-based Early Childhood Education. Tranche 2 changes were largely completed in 2022 and 2023.
Tranche 3 Tranche 3 was intended to include:
work to improve adult-to-child ratios (from the Early Learning Action Plan)
reviewing the early learning regulatory system, likely to also include a complete rewrite of the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 (the regulations).
Work on reviewing the regulatory system has been superseded by the ECE regulatory sector being undertaken by the new Ministry for Regulation.
Find out more about the ECE regulatory sector review on Early Learning Regulatory Work .
Work to improve adult-to-child ratios is on hold pending further Government decisions.
Advice provided by the Ministry of Education The table below details advice we provided for the Early Learning Regulatory Review.
Date of paper
Title
METIS number
29 July 2020
Cabinet Paper, Regulatory Impact Statement and Minute: Proposed changes to the early learning regulatory system [PDF, 1.5 MB]
SWC-20-MIN-0116
3 February 2020
Education Report: Review of the Early Learning Regulatory System: Scope and Timeframes [PDF, 2.8 MB] 1218418
28 February 2020
Education Report: Review of the Early Learning Regulatory System: Revised Scope and Timeframes, and Draft Cabinet Paper [PDF, 3.5 MB] 1221884
3 July 2020
Education Report: Restarting the Review of the Early Learning Regulatory System [PDF, 1.1 MB] 1234266
23 July 2020
Aide Memoire: Proposed changes to the early learning regulatory system - implications for Pacific early learning services [PDF, 799 KB] 1235632
29 July 2020
Aide Memoire: Proposed changes to the early learning regulatory system [PDF, 728 KB] 1236086
20 November 2020
Education Report: Review of the Early Learning Regulatory System: Tranche one consultation [PDF, 741 KB] 1245030
17 February 2021
Education Report: Home-based ECE qualification changes [PDF, 746 KB] 1249356
29 April 2021
Education Report:Early Learning Regulatory Review – options for regulating for 80% qualified teachers Network Management – Te Tiriti o Waitangi, appeals and other matters [PDF, 957 KB] 1253466
26 May 2021
Education Report: Early Learning Regulatory Review - tranche one proposals [PDF, 14 MB] 1250403
27 May 2021
Briefing Note: Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee consideration of Implementing Qualification Requirements for Home-based Early Childhood Educators [PDF, 715 KB] 1260430
8 June 2021
Cabinet paper: Implementing Qualification Requirements for Home-based Early Childhood Educators [PDF, 952 KB] CAB-21-MIN-0206
10 June 2021
Education Report: Early Learning Regulatory Review: Network Management – policy settings and consultation [PDF, 1.5 MB] 1255416
21 June 2021
Information Update: Talking points Regulatory Review LEG 21 June [PDF, 111 KB] 1263567
28 June 2021
Cabinet Paper: Education (Early Childhood Services) Amendment Regulations [PDF, 1.3 MB] CAB-21-MIN-0242
14 July 2021
Education Report: Early Learning Regulatory Review: Network Management – Te Tiriti o Waitangi, appeals and other matters [PDF, 1.3 MB] 1265914
19 July 2021
Education Report: Early Learning Regulatory Review: Strengthening the person responsible requirements [PDF, 1.2 MB] 1255415
2 August 2021
Education Report: Public consultation on tranche two of the Early Learning Regulatory Review [PDF, 686 KB] 1267141
13 August 2021
Interim Regulatory Impact Statements for tranche two of the Early Learning Regulatory Review [PDF, 1.9 MB]
20 August 2021
Education Report: Consultation on regulations for home-based educator qualifications [PDF, 937 KB] 1267975
22 October 2021
Education Report: Cabinet paper: Policy approvals for final policy settings for early childhood network management(external link) 1273665
22 November 2021
Cabinet Paper: Final Policy Settings for Early Childhood Network Management: Policy Approvals(external link) CAB-22-MIN-0490
2 December 2021
Education Report: Network management - advice on kōhanga reo proposal [PDF, 908 KB] 1278579
6 December 2021
Briefing Note: Talking points for the network management SOP, LEG Committee on 9 December 2021(external link) 1278487
10 Feburary 2022
Education Report: Network management implementation and policy for new regulations [PDF, 1005 KB] 1281395
23 February 2022
Briefing Note: Network management Cabinet paper for lodging and talking points(external link) 1281865
7 March 2022
Cabinet Paper: Commencement of network management for licensed early childhood services and exclusion of Māori immersion services(external link) CAB-22-MIN-0052
25 March 2022
Education Report: Definition of Māori immersion early childhood services to be excluded from network management [PDF, 993 KB] 1284653
31 March 2022
Education Report: Network management – advice on Government priorities for the National and Regional Statements(external link) 1282744
6 May 2022
Education Report: Next steps to strengthen the Person Responsible requirements in early childhood education services [PDF, 867 KB] 1281266
17 June 2022
Education Report: Cabinet paper: Priorities for network management policy for new regulations [PDF, 911 KB] 1289566
26 July 2022
Briefing Note: Talking points - Early learning network management: policy approvals for final policy settings [PDF, 773 KB] 1291317
1 August 2022
Cabinet Paper: Early Learning Network Management: Policy Approvals for Priorities and Regulations [PDF, 1.5 MB] CAB-22-MIN-0281
26 August 2022
Education Report: Further proposals for Tranche 2 of the Early Learning Regulatory Review [PDF, 813 KB] 1291344
1 September 2022
Briefing Note: Cabinet paper Education (Early Childhood Services Network Approval) Regulations 2022 [PDF, 720 KB] 1284272
21 September 2022
Briefing Note: Final Cabinet paper and talking points - Education (Early Childhood Services Network Approval) Regulations 2022 [PDF, 669 KB] 1284272
3 October 2022
Cabinet Paper: Education (Early Childhood Services Network Approval) Regulations 2022 [PDF, 1.5 MB] CAB-22-MIN-0428
17 November 2022
Interim Regulatory Impact Statement: Additional Tranche 2 issues – adding conditions to provisional licences, defining ‘permanently ceased to operate’, and providing for temporary service closures [PDF, 846 KB]
25 November 2022
Cabinet Paper: Cabinet Paper on proposals for Tranche 2 of the Early Learning Regulatory Review [PDF, 4.4 MB] CAB-23-MIN0398
30 March 2023
Options for slowing down requirements for 80 percent qualified teachers in teacher-led ECE [PDF, 736 KB] 1307705
24 May 2023
Cabinet Paper: Proposed amendments for Tranche 2 of the Early Learning Regulatory Review [PDF, 2.4 MB] CAB-23-MIN-0207.02
10 August 2023
Cabinet Paper: Amendments to the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 [PDF, 8.9 MB] LEG-23-0129
Last reviewed: 05 June 2024
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