Early Childhood Education and Kindergarten

Early childhood education (ECE) provides education and care for children before they are old enough to go to primary school. While not compulsory, it is acknowledged as a key component of a child’s development. Please consult with your Community Navigator to discuss the best options for your child (under five). There are several options to help you arrange an early education that will suit your situation and needs:

1. Kindergartens accept children between two and five years old. Some will offer all-day, morning or afternoon attendance, or some combination of these schedules.

2. Child Care Centres can be private, run by a community or an organisation that employs parents. These accept children from up to six years old, on a part-time or full-time basis (or some combination thereof).

3. Home-based care allows for the possibility of up to four children in the home of their caregiver. The caregiver must belong to a formal service and is supervised by university-certified academic faculty.

4. Correspondence School offers programs for children between the ages of three and five who are unable to attend school for various reasons. The system lends books, puzzles, games and art materials for use at home. The system is also supervised by university-qualified staff with educational expertise.

5. Māori immersion community groups (Te Kohanga Reo) provide educational content in the Māori language, to try to build fluency in children at an early age.

6. Play centres are sometimes organised by parents and family members, and may take on some educational tasks at the members' discretion.

7. Playgroups are community groups run by parents and volunteers who receive funding, training, and formal certification.

8. Children's playgroups from the Countries of the South Pacific (Pacific Island Playgroups).

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