Home
Early Learning
Starting an early learning service
Starting a centre-based ECE service

Starting a centre-based ECE service

Te whakatū i tētahi ratonga kōhungahunga kei tētahi whare kōhungahunga

Click on the links in the table of contents for information on starting a centre-based licensed early learning service.

On this page

What an early childhood education and care centre is

What an early childhood education and care centre is

An early childhood education and care centre is defined in the Education and Training Act 2020 as “premises used regularly for the education or care of 3 or more children (not being children of the persons providing the education or care, or children enrolled at a school being provided with education and care before or after school) under the age of 6:

by the day or part of a day, but
not for any continuous period of more than 7 days."

Early childhood education and care legislation and regulations

Licensed early childhood education (ECE) and care centres are required to comply with legislation, regulatory standards and criteria.

Designing and building your new ECE service premises

There are many things to consider when building or renovating the premises for your new centre-based early childhood education and care service.

Complying with indoor premises and facilities licensing criteria

Complying with outdoor premises and facilities licensing criteria

Equipment for early childhood services

Providing children with a variety of equipment and resources gives them the opportunity to make choices, plan and problem solve as they play.

Governance and management roles and responsibilities

Preparing for staff employment

Before you apply for a licence you must have staff ready to start working at you early childhood service.

Preparing policies, procedures and processes

Administration records

Annual plan and budget

An annual plan and annual budget are important parts of the smooth operation of an ECE service.

Fees and funding

The Early Learning Information (ELI) System

Required assessments, approvals and registrations

When starting a service, you need to have these assessments, approvals and registrations that are administered by other organisations.

Applying for a licence

If you want to provide an early childhood education and care service, you will need a licence.

Guides for starting an early childhood service

Guides and factsheets to help you start an early childhood service.