Childcare / Daycare Definition

What is early childhood care and education?

In New Zealand, the main providers of early childhood education are kindergartens, playcentres, Pacific Islands language groups, education and care services, home-based care services and köhanga reo.

Early childhood education programmes are, on the whole, developmental and based in learning through play. All early childhood services wishing to receive government funding must be licensed and chartered. Licensing ensures that basic standards of quality are maintained.

A charter sets out both mandatory and optional objectives and practices. Chartered groups receive funding direct from government in the form of a bulk grant.