Apply for a probationary licence

a. At the time when you were preparing policies, procedures and processes you should have applied for a probationary licence using an Application to licence an early childhood centre (EC/1C). If you have not already sent this application to your local Ministry of Education office, complete the application and send it now. Include all fully completed documentation required.

b. Contact your local Ministry office to set a date for your licensing visit. The Ministry uses the application form, the documentation you sent and the licence assessment visit to determine whether your service is ready to be granted a licence. Please note, the Ministry of Education has 30 working days to grant or refuse to grant a probationary licence. The 30 days begins after the receipt of a completed application form including all associated documentation such as Code of Compliance, interim Fire approval and the Health report.

c. Set up your indoor and outdoor centre environment so that it is fully ready for children and their families to attend.

d. Carry out your own pre-licence check using the Ministry’s licensing assessment tool (EC/3C). Contact your local Ministry of Education office for a copy of the assessment tool.

e. Ensure the centre’s local contact person and key staff are available during the Ministry’s licence assessment visit.

f. You need to allow at least 5 working days after the licence assessment visit for the Ministry to prepare and send out the licence. The probationary licence from the Ministry of Education must be displayed on the wall before you can operate the service.

Full licence

A full licence assessment must be carried out by the Ministry within 12 months of gaining a probationary licence. During the full licence check the Ministry of Education will assess policies, practices and curriculum implementation in action.