In New Zealand there are many different types of early childhood services that cater for different age groups of children. Some are licensed for children from birth to school age and others are licensed for specific age groups, either for children over the age of two, or children under two. This monograph is about services specifically for children under the age of two, commonly referred to as infant and toddler centres.
The Education Review Office (ERO) reviews all licensed early childhood services and reports publicly on the quality of education and care that each service provides. ERO has used the findings from these reviews1 to write the early childhood monograph series. The purpose of the series is to provide evaluative information about groups of services. Parents can use this information along with the ERO report Early Childhood Education: A Guide for Parents, June 2007,2 and ERO reports on individual services, to help make decisions about which early childhood service best fits their needs and aspirations for their child.
Review reports can be read on the ERO website and every licensed service holds a copy of its current ERO report.