Criterion GMA201
Parents and whānau are provided with information on how to access the following, in either written or digital format:
the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008
the Licensing Criteria for Home-Based Education and Care Services 2008
the most recent Education Review Office report regarding the service
information about any changes to the service’s licence status
the full names and qualifications of each person counting towards regulated qualification requirements
information concerning their child
any fees charged by the service
how they can be involved in the service
the service’s operational documents
any planned reviews and consultation
the amount and details of the expenditure of any Ministry of Education funding received by the service and
a procedure for parents and whānau to follow if they wish to make a complaint about the service. The procedure should include details on who to contact and the contact information for the local Education Review Office.
⚑ For services offering out-of-school care, evidence of:
a notice advising parents if the home their child is attending will have children receiving out-of-school care and
parental acknowledgment of the notice.
Guidance
How to show you are complying
You need to share with parents and whānau how they can access all the information outlined in this criterion. Depending on the type of information, you can share this in either written or digital format. For example, you might choose to hold a copy of your service’s licence on a parent portal of your website and then advise them how to access a copy of any updates to your licence status in a newsletter.
You can provide information on how to access the required information:
as part of a parent welcome or induction pack
within newsletters
at regular meetings
on your website
within a portfolio for each child.
Service’s complaints procedure
Complaints will vary from minor to major and may escalate rapidly from one to the other unless they are well managed.
To support a clear and fair complaints process, make sure people know they can contact the Education Review Office if they have concerns about non-compliance. This summary should outline the key steps and who to contact, including the Education Review Office's contact information. A template is available in the tools to help you comply section.
Amounts and details of Ministry funding
You need to provide parents and whānau with information about how to access information on the funding your service receives form the Ministry of Education and how this has been spent. Make sure any information you give parents about Ministry funding only relates to the individual licence. Do not include details from other licences that are part of your group or association.
Out of school care
If your home-based service includes care for school-aged children outside school hours, you need to show that you told the parents that their child would be in a home with other children receiving that care — and that the parents understood and acknowledged this.
Professional practice regarding separated parents/guardians
If a child attending the service is from a family with separated parents, the Education and Training Act 2020 sets out the right of entry to early childhood education (ECE) services for parents and guardians.
Unless a court order rules otherwise, all parents and guardians are entitled to:
reports about their child’s participation and learning experiences in ECE
participate in the opportunities provided by the ECE service to engage with parents
have access to any official records held at the service about their child’s participation in that service.
It is recommended that services develop a process to help staff understand how to establish a relationship with both separated parents and support open communication. This should include ensuring adults providing education and care are aware of any relevant court orders.
Professional practice regarding separated parents/guardians Download PDF
When assessing whether you comply with GMA201
Questions you are likely to be asked
How do you make sure parents and whānau know how to access the required information?
Can you show me your service’s complaints procedure?
We are likely to look at/measure or count
Look at your service’s complaints procedure.
Look at how parents and whānau access information.
We are likely to request
The written or digital ways your service shares how parents and whānau can access the required information.
Copy of parental acknowledgement of any notice their child is attending a home which has children receiving out-of-school care.
The tools below are here to support you, but you do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.
Guidance and a template for developing a complaints procedure is below.
When families are well informed, they can be more involved in their child’s education and make choices about the service. It means families can understand how the service works, who is caring for their child, and how to raise concerns if needed.
Doing more than the minimum can shape better outcomes for children.
Here are some ideas or examples you might like to consider.
Services may want to consider how information is shared so it is culturally appropriate for the centre’s community.
Things to consider include:
parent’s first language
communal decision-making practices
the topic or subject.