About upcoming changes to home-based service reviews
ERO is exploring how reviews of home-based early childhood services may evolve in the future. This work is still in its early stages, and no changes to current review approaches have been confirmed.
Home-based services operate differently from centre-based services, with educators providing education and care in home settings supported by visiting teachers and service leadership. As part of this work, ERO is considering how future review approaches could strengthen our understanding of quality, compliance, leadership and continuous improvement, while reflecting the distinctive ways home-based services support children’s learning, development, wellbeing and safety.
We will continue to engage with the home-based sector as this work progresses. Any future changes will be informed by feedback from providers, leaders, coordinators, visiting teachers, educators, parents and whānau, alongside ERO’s experience reviewing home-based services.
Until any new approaches are approved and operational, reviews will continue to be conducted using the current guides, frameworks and processes described on these pages.
What can services expect?
At this stage, there is no change to how ERO reviews home-based services.
As we explore and develop future approaches, services can expect ERO to:
Work with the home-based sector to better understand the unique features of home-based education and care.
Explore how review approaches can continue to support quality improvement, regulatory compliance and positive outcomes for children and mokopuna.
Consider how existing and future review tools, resources and guidance can support both services and ERO review teams.
Share information and seek feedback before any new approaches are implemented more widely.
What can parents and whānau expect?
For parents and whānau, there is nothing you need to do differently.
ERO will continue to review home-based services and publish review findings. If future changes to review approaches are introduced, our focus will remain the same: understanding how effectively services support children's learning, development, wellbeing and safety, and providing clear information to families about the quality of education and care.
How to keep up to date
ERO will continue to share information as this work progresses.
As our thinking develops, and if future approaches are tested or trialled, we will update this page with the latest information, guidance and resources for home-based 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