Centre based ECE services

This area of the site focuses on information that applies to centre-based early childhood education (ECE) services.

Centre-based ECE services are defined as ECE services that operate from specified premises and are currently licensed in accordance with the Education Act 1989 under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008. The exception is services that provide education and care only to children who are patients of a hospital. Under the 2008 regulations hospital based services will have their own criteria.

Centre-based ECE services have a variety of different operating structures, philosophies and affiliations, and are known by many different names - Playcentres, early learning centres, Montessori, childcare centres, Kindergartens, crèches, ngā Kohanga reo, preschools, a’oga amata, Rudolf Steiner etc.

A copy of the criteria can be downloaded from the right hand column.