Meeting licensing requirements when a non-enrolled child visits
Licensed early childhood education and care centres provide education and care for enrolled children. There may be times a child who is not enrolled visits a centre accompanied by their parent or another adult.
During licensed hours, visiting children must be counted towards the service's adult-to-child ratios and licence maximum. An adult accompanying a visiting child can be counted in the ratio for the purpose of supervising that child.
No child of any age can visit your service if it would mean you:
cannot meet the regulated adult-to-child ratios
will exceed the maximum number of children specified on your licence.
For practical purposes there may be times when you temporarily exceed your licence maximum, such as at pick-up and drop-off times or when a parent and child are visiting to enrol in the service. You should consider if it would be better to hold larger events/activities outside of licensed hours or as an excursion to ensure you meet regulated standards.
Health and safety impacts
If you allow non-enrolled children and additional adults to visit your service, you must be able to keep them safe without affecting care for enrolled children. This includes events or parties where more family members might be present than usual.
Your service is considered as persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Refer to sections 36 and 46 of the Act when considering who should be at a service and how you manage this.
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 – New Zealand Legislation
Consider developing a policy for non-enrolled child visits with parents and whānau | families that states how:
the education and care of enrolled children will not be affected
parents of enrolled children will be informed
child and adult safety will be managed including that of visitors.
You must also consider any legal requirements, such as how many people are allowed at your service according to your compliance schedule and fire evacuation plans.
Funding for enrolled children
Children visiting an early learning service are only eligible for funding if they:
are under the age of 6, and
are not enrolled in school, and
have completed an enrolment agreement with the service.