- Apply for an early learning service licence or certification
- Introduction to early learning services
- Licences to operate in early childhood education and care
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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
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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
On this page
The value of playgroups
Playgroups are one early childhood education (ECE) option available to children and families in New Zealand. They contribute towards a key government objective of increasing participation in quality early childhood education.
The benefit of playgroups is that they can be set up quickly, are flexible and they have fewer regulatory requirements than other ECE services and can respond well to the needs of their community.
Mōhiohio anō
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Page updated: 03:15AM 10 August 2026
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