Children benefit when they join early learning settings. We encourage whānau | families to participate by funding the initiatives below.

Engaging Priority Families

The Engaging Priority Families (EPF) initiative is for families with children aged 3 to 4 years who do not regularly attend an early learning service.

EPF is run by community organisations who support families through in-home or group sessions to:

• be more involved in their child’s early learning
• choose an early learning service that is right for them
• support their child when they transition to school.

For more information about EPF, contact a provider or iwi partner in your area.

Poipoia te Mokopuna

Poipoia te Mokopuna (PTM) is for Māori whānau with tamariki | children up to 3 years old who do not attend an early learning service.

PTM is run by local organisations and iwi partners with strong connections within their rohe | region. They provide free advice using kaupapa Māori to involve whānau in their children’s early learning. PTM includes a mix of in-home and group sessions. It is flexible to accommodate different family schedules.

For more information, contact the provider and iwi partner in your area.

Targeted Assistance for Participation

Targeted Assistance for Participation (TAP) provides funds for buildings for early learning services in parts of the country where participation rates are low. It aims to increase children’s attendance.

Supported playgroups

Supported playgroups are a type of certificated playgroup with requirements for:

• curriculum delivery
• parent engagement
• transitions to school.

We fund a coordinator who helps each supported playgroup meet these requirements.

Supported playgroups target Māori and Pacific families, and families in low socio-economic areas.

Supported playgroups aim to:

• provide a flexible model to suit a variety of community needs (including rural and isolated communities)
• offer support for whānau engagement with their children's learning
• broker relationships with other early learning services and schools
• offer a low-cost early learning option for whānau.

Whānau In Home Learning

The Whānau In Home Learning initiative is for families with children aged 2 to 5 years.

The programme helps families to:

• understand the importance of early learning
• create a learning environment at home
• prepare their children for attending an early learning service or school.