Enrolment and attendance at a recognised early childhood education programme

A client and their partner (if any) receiving Supported Living Payment must take all reasonable steps to ensure that their child is enrolled in and attending a recognised early childhood education programme from the age of three until they start school.

Generally, clients should have their children participating in a recognised early childhood education programme for 15 hours a week. This is a target number of hours; if a child is attending less hours this will be acceptable.

Recognised early childhood programmes for the purposes of social obligations include programmes that are:

• approved (licensed and certificated under the Education and Training Act 2020) early childhood education (ECE) programmes
• Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu - Distance School or
• another approved parenting and early childhood home education programme

Generally, a place in approved early childhood education (ECE) service should be considered first.

When a place in early childhood education is not available or is not suitable (for example due to hours of operation, distance or family circumstances) then other approved parenting and early childhood home education programmes should be considered.

Generally you should encourage your clients to take reasonable steps to have their children participating in early childhood programmes for 15 hours a week.

This is a target number of hours. It is acceptable for a child to be attending for less than this.

This obligation only applies to parents of children aged between 3 and 6 years (except where the child has started school at 5 years).

If a child is aged between 5 and 6 years, the parent or caregiver can choose whether to have their child in a recognised early childhood education programme or school. A child does not legally have to attend school until they are 6 years (but most children start school at 5 years).

In most cases, you should take the client's word that they are meeting this social obligation.

However, where you have information that the client may not be taking all reasonable steps towards this social obligation you can check if a Childcare Subsidy is being paid for the child or you may ask the client to provide verification.

For example, if you receive information that a child is not attending you can ask the client to get a letter from their childcare provider that confirms the child's attendance. You can also check the client's current Childcare Subsidy information.