- Apply for an early learning service licence or certification
- Introduction to early learning services
- Licences to operate in early childhood education and care
-
Starting a centre-based ECE service
- Early childhood education and care legislation and regulations
- Designing and building your new ECE service premises
- Complying with indoor premises and facilities licensing criteria
- Complying with outdoor premises and facilities licensing criteria
- Equipment for early childhood services
- Governance and management roles and responsibilities
- Preparing for staff employment
- Preparing policies, procedures and processes
- Administration records
- Annual plan and budget
- Fees and funding
- The Early Learning Information (ELI) System
- Required assessments, approvals and registrations
- Applying for a licence
- Guides for starting an early childhood service
-
Starting a home-based ECE service
- Early childhood education and care regulations
- Home-based service operating models
- The home-based education and care home environment
- Health and safety standards and emergencies
- Home-based education and care premises and facilities
- Governance and management roles
- Managing your service
- Roles and responsibilities in a home-based education and care service
- Preparing policies, procedures and processes
- Administration records
- Annual plan and budget
- Fees and funding
- The Early Learning Information (ELI) System
- Applying for a licence
- Starting a playgroup
- Starting a puna kōhungahunga (Māori language playgroup)
- Information to assist applicants
- Information to assist home-based applicants
- Useful contact information
Apply for an early learning service licence or certification
You can apply for a licence for your centre-based or home-based early learning service.
To apply for a licence, choose the type of early learning service you are opening.
Apply for a licence for a centre-based service
Apply for a licence for home-based service
Apply for a licence for a hospital-based service
To start a certified playgroup or puna kōhungahunga, choose the type you are starting.
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Page updated: 01:58AM 31 August 2026
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