About incoming changes for Governing Organisation Reviews
ERO is developing a new review approach for Governing Organisations and a sample of the services they oversee which we expect to trial later in 2026. These changes are not in place yet.
The updated approach is intended to strengthen ERO's focus on how Governing Organisations support quality, compliance, leadership and continuous improvement across their network of services. Quality education and care is built on strong foundations, and that starts with meeting regulatory requirements that support children's safety, wellbeing and learning. The new approach is designed to help ERO understand both how effectively a Governing Organisation supports and monitors compliance across its services, and how its systems, processes and leadership contribute to quality outcomes for children and mokopuna.
What can Governing Organisations and services expect?
While some aspects of the approach are still being finalised, Governing Organisations and their services can expect reviews to take place in two phases:
Phase One focuses on compliance and scoping activity with the Governing Organisation and a sample of its services.
Phase Two is informed by the findings from Phase One. Depending on what ERO finds, this may involve a more detailed compliance assessment or an evaluation of quality and improvement.
The new approach will still reflect ERO's view that quality starts with getting the basics right. It is designed to help us understand how effectively a Governing Organisation supports compliance across its services, while also evaluating how leadership, governance, systems and processes contribute to continuous improvement and positive outcomes for children and mokopuna.
New frameworks, tools and guidance will be introduced to support the review process. ERO is also drawing on learnings from the implementation of the ELFI | Early Learning Framework for Improvement in standalone centre-based English-medium and Pacific-medium services as we continue to develop the Governing Organisation approach.
We expect to begin trialing an updated approach with a small number of Governing Organisations from October 2026. Feedback from participating organisations, services and review officers will help inform the ongoing refinement of the methodology.
What can parents and whānau expect?
For parents and whānau, there is nothing you need to do differently. ERO will continue to review early learning services and share review findings publicly. The new approach is designed to help us better understand how Governing Organisations support the quality, safety and wellbeing of children and mokopuna across the services they oversee, giving ERO a fuller picture of the experience’s children, mokopuna and whānau have every day.
How to keep up to date
ERO will continue to share information about the development of the Governing Organisation review approach as it becomes available. As the way we review is refined and trialled, we will update this page with the latest information, guidance and resources for Governing Organisations, services, parents and whānau.
We encourage you to:
Check this page regularly for updates, resources and answers to frequently asked questions as the new review approach continues to be developed and implemented.
Read ERO newsletters, and updates from review teams and our Director of Regulation and ECE.
Send your questions through to info@ero.govt.nz