Criteria Development Project
The Ministry of Education began a regulatory review for Early Childhood Education (ECE) in 2003 as signalled in Pathways to the Future: Nga Huarahi Arataki, the Strategic Plan for ECE. In 2004 Cabinet agreed on a three-tiered regulatory framework – Act, regulations and criteria.
Under the new regulatory framework, two new sets of regulations (one covering all licensed services, and one for playgroups wishing to receive funding) will outline the standards of education and care that must be met. The criteria state the day-to-day requirements ECE services must meet in order to gain and maintain a licence to operate (or be certificated, in the case of playgroups). The Secretary of Education will use the criteria to assess compliance with the standards.
The Criteria Development Project began in 2004. Ministry of Education officials, Public Health representatives (who play an advisory role in the licensing process) and ECE sector-nominated representatives were involved in the development of the criteria, to ensure they reflect current interpretations of requirements.
The first phase of public consultation occurred in mid-2006 when the draft criteria were released to the wider ECE sector. Feedback received during this process was used to refine and revise the criteria.
The second phase of public consultation on the proposed criteria was conducted during October-November 2007.
A summary report about the feedback received during this process is now available.
Proposed Criteria Consultation 2007
Draft Criteria Consultation 2006
