Licensed Centres

Licensed Centres

In order to be a licensed Playcentre, and run funded sessions a Playcentre must:

• Follow the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2008/0204/latest/DLM1412501.html.
  • The regulations outline the high level legislative requirements for early childhood services of all types. They are generally quite broad and don’t go into many specifics.
• Follow the Licensing Criteria for centre-based ECE services 2008: http://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/licensing-and-regulations/the-regulatory-framework-for-ece/licensing-criteria/centre-based-ece-services/
  • The Licensing criteria are more detailed and outline specifics about the premises, health and safety, curriculum and governance criteria that centre-based services such as Playcentre must meet in order to be licensed
  • Many of Playcentre Aotearoa’s policies and procedures are designed to meet these criteria, and will indicate which of these criteria they are meeting on the document.
  • The criteria online also provides guidance and examples to help services interpret the criteria.

Once a centre is licensed, and able to meet the Regulations and Criteria on an ongoing basis, they also need to meet the funding conditions outlined in the Funding Handbook to be eligible for funding: http://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/funding-and-data/funding-handbooks/ece-funding-handbook/the-ece-funding-subsidy/section-3c-parentwhanau-led-services/3-c-3-playcentres/

Overarching Requirements

• A Playcentre must be affiliated to Te Whanau Tupu Ngatahi o Aotearoa Playcentre Aotearoa, Inc.
• A Playcentre must be organised, equipped, and managed on a cooperative basis
• Programmes must be at least partly provided by parents of the children attending the session
• Each session must have no more than 30 children in attendance (the exact number for your centre will be shown on your licence).
• Each session must meet the people requirements of:
  • Ratio of at least 1 adult to 5 children.
  • Parent or caregiver of children under 2.5years must stay
  • People to meet one of the Options for qualifications
  • First Aider

Playcentre Aotearoa also requires a minimum of 2 adults whenever there is a child that you are not bringing to the centre.