Incentive grant information and application form 2009

This pack provides information about the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Incentive Grants including eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Please ensure that you read ALL sections carefully before you apply for an ECE Incentive Grant.

If you require further information please contact the team on 04 463 8223 or email eceincentive.grants@minedu.govt.nz

Aim

The Ministry of Education has awarded Incentive Grants since 2001.  Incentive Grants are intended to contribute to the costs ECE services face when assisting staff to gain a New Zealand Teachers Council-approved early childhood teaching qualification that leads to registration as a teacher.

Key information

The closing date for the 2009 ECE Incentive Grant round is 3 April 2009

• An Incentive Grant is worth $2094 (GST inclusive) for each approved application each year, to a maximum of $7329 over a three and a half year period. 
• The ECE service must use the full amount (less GST) of the Incentive Grant to support the staff member nominated in the application to gain their early childhood teaching qualification.  A list of all early childhood teacher education programmes approved by the New Zealand Teachers Council is available from TeachNZ on 0800 832 246 or www.teachnz.govt.nz.
• There is no limit on the number of applications one ECE service can submit, however a new application is needed to be made for each staff member, each year.  There is also no limit to the number of applications that the Ministry of Education can approve for one ECE service. 
• Staff members need to be employed on a permanent basis by the ECE service; there is no set number of hours a staff member needs to work.  The Incentive Grant is not income tested.  Staff members that are working permanently at an ECE service but whose contract is held with a recruitment company are not eligible for an Incentive Grant.
• Letters advising all ECE services and staff members of the outcome of their application will be sent by 21 May 2009.
• The ECE service is responsible for managing GST and must keep clear and concise records of Incentive Grant expenditure for audit purposes.  Services may request receipts from staff members for resources purchased using the Incentive Grant, as services are required to keep an audit trail of how the grant has been used. 
• If the service is using the grant to pay a staff member while on practicum/study leave, or using the grant to pay for a reliever while the staff member is on practicum/study leave, the audit trail must clearly show that Incentive Grant has been used in this way.  It is also very important that staff members’ understand that this is the way the grant is being used prior to the application form being sent to the Ministry.
• Incentive Grants will be paid in two instalments of $1047 each.  The first instalment will be paid in June and the second in August. 
• Incentive Grants are paid directly to the service, not to the staff member studying.  Both instalments will be paid into the same bank account as the service’s bulk funding.  Letters confirming each payment will be sent to the ECE service only.

Number of Incentive Grants available in 2009

In 2009 there will be 2,500 Incentive Grants available for allocation for all of New Zealand.  If the initiative is over-subscribed and more than 2,500 eligible applications are received, priority will be given to services which are on a Provisional Licence (for staffing issues), services on lower funding bands, previous grant recipients, applicants who will graduate in 2009 and services which are in Ministry of Education designated “hard to staff” regions.

Eligibility criteria

There are two key areas of eligibility for the Incentive Grant.  They are as follows:

Services that are eligible for the Incentive Grant

Incentive Grants are available to teacher-led ECE services which are not already required to have 100% of their staff qualified and registered.  These are:

• early childhood education and care services;
• home-based networks; and
• all-day kindergartens administered by a Kindergarten Association.

Incentive Grants are not available to:

• parent/whanau-led ECE services; or
• sessional kindergartens administered by a Kindergarten Association (as all teachers in these services are already required to be registered).

Staff members who are eligible for the Incentive Grant

An ECE service can apply for an Incentive Grant if the staff member studying:

• is a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident;
• is permanently employed at an eligible ECE service;
• has not, in any year, received a Ministry of Education ECE Study Grant;
• does not currently hold a recognised ECE qualification and is studying towards their first approved ECE qualification that leads to registration;
• as at 3 April 2009 has had their enrolment confirmed in an early childhood teacher education programme approved by the New Zealand Teachers Council for 2009.

EVIDENCE OF ENROLMENT
Evidence is no longer required as the Ministry of Education
will contact all education providers directly to confirm
enrolment of students.

Incentive Grant Application Forms must be completed in full. 
Applications must be posted to:

ECE Incentive Grants
ECE Implementation Planning Team
Level 6
Ministry of Education
PO Box 1666 – Thorndon
Wellington

Only posted applications will be accepted.
Faxed applications will not be accepted.
Applications post-marked after the closing date will not be accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about ECE Incentive Grants

1. How should the Incentive Grant be spent?

ECE services must use the full amount (less GST) of the Incentive Grant to support the staff member to gain their first early childhood teaching qualification.  The type of support offered must be negotiated and agreed with the staff member.  ECE services can use the Incentive Grant for a single purpose, or in several different ways.  Incentive Grants can be used to:

• pay the staff member for days away from work if they are not usually paid, e.g. on practicum, or days on campus/in class, study leave;
• contribute to a staff member’s teacher education programme fees;
• purchase study resources, where the staff member would not be able to complete their programme of study without the resource (e.g. textbooks, computer access);
• contribute towards additional tuition;
• contribute towards costs incurred by travelling to and from study;
• pay for a reliever while the staff member is away from the ECE service due to study commitments.

The Incentive Grant cannot be used to pay for staff members to attend conferences.

Any form of support NOT stated above will need to be approved by the Ministry of Education.

2. If the Incentive Grant is used to purchase study resources, such as a computer, who retains ownership of the resource?

ECE services are responsible for the expenditure of the Incentive Grant and therefore can retain ownership of any study resources purchased with the grant unless they agree to give ownership to the staff member.  This agreement must be in writing, and a copy kept by both the service and staff member prior to purchasing any resources.

3. When does the Incentive Grant have to be used by?

The Incentive Grant must be used in the year in which it is allocated.  For example if you are approved in 2009, the grant payments will be made in June and August 2009 and will need to be used in full by 31 December 2009.

4. Does the Incentive Grant carry over to 2010?

No. A new application must be made each year.  Incentive Grants cannot be carried over or deferred.

Each staff member studying is eligible to apply for a total of $7329.  This amount allows for up to three and a half years of Incentive Grant payments to be made for each eligible staff member studying.  Previous Incentive Grant recipients are prioritised in following Incentive Grant rounds if the round is over subscribed.

5. Does an ECE service have to pay the GST and PAYE?

Yes, the ECE service must manage the GST component.  If the Incentive Grant is used to pay wages, it will also need to meet the usual PAYE requirements.

6. Do I need to attach evidence of enrolment to my application form?

No.  The Ministry will contact each education provider directly to confirm enrolment of every eligible applicant.

7. Does the staff member have to work full-time or work a certain number of hours to apply?

No.  Staff members must hold a permanent contract with an early childhood service.  If a staff member is working permanently with an early childhood service, but the contract is held with a recruitment agent, or the staff member is a casual reliever or volunteer they are not eligible to apply.  There is no set number of hours a staff member needs to work to be eligible to apply for an Incentive Grant.

8. What happens if the staff member studying leaves the service?

If the staff member studying leaves your service you must inform the Ministry of Education within three weeks.  If the full amount (less GST) of the Incentive Grant has not been used to support the staff member before they leave, the Ministry of Education will seek recovery of the unused amount from the service.

If the Incentive Grant has been used to support the staff member, the ECE service cannot seek recovery of the grant from that staff member when they leave.

9. Is the Incentive Grant transferable for staff members who move to another service?

Incentive Grants are not transferable.  Once employment is confirmed in another ECE service, the staff member and their “new” service will need to complete Section 1 and Section 3 of the Incentive Grant Application Form and send this to the Ministry of Education. 

Based on the new service’s information, Incentive Grant eligibility is re-assessed.  In some cases, the recovered portion of the Incentive Grant from the previous employer may be allocated to the “new” service.  The latest date that a payment can be made to a new service is 1 December 2009.  Under no circumstances can payments be made to services from previous years.

10. If I graduate in 2009, can I still apply for the Incentive Grant?

As at 3 April 2009, if your enrolment in a recognised programme of ECE has been confirmed, you are eligible to apply for the Incentive Grant.

However, if your application is approved but you graduate prior to 1 September 2009, you are only eligible to receive the first of two Incentive Grant instalments ($1047).  If you graduate after 1 September 2009 you are eligible to receive both instalments ($2094).

11. Can an ECE service bond a staff member to employment with the Incentive Grant?

No.  ECE services cannot use the Incentive Grant as a condition of employment and bond a staff member.  The Incentive Grant must be used in full to support the staff member; any unused portion needs to be returned to the Ministry of Education.  Under no circumstances can an ECE request staff to repay the Incentive Grant to them.

12. What other scholarships and grants are available from the Ministry of Education to assist people wishing to become qualified early childhood teachers?

TeachNZ Scholarships

700 scholarships are available annually for people on low incomes and for people enrolled in programmes preparing them to teach in kaupapa Maori or Pasifika settings. The scholarships pay study fees, and up to a $10,000 allowance for full-time students only, to gain an early childhood teaching qualification.  Information about the scholarships is available on the TeachNZ website www.teachnz.govt.nz or phone 0800 832 246.
Please note: Staff members that have received or have been approved to receive a TeachNZ Scholarship may also apply for and receive an Incentive Grant.

ECE Study Grants

ECE Study Grants are a one-off payment of $3000, available to people that already hold particular qualifications and are enrolled in an early childhood teaching qualification.  For further information please go to the homepage of this website or contact the team on (04) 463 8223.
Students that have been approved and received a TeachNZ Scholarship or Incentive Grant in any year are not eligible to receive a Study Grant.

CLOSING DATE: 3 APRIL 2009