Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory sector review
The ECE regulatory review assessed whether the current set of regulations are achieving the right outcomes for early childhood education.
The regulatory review into the ECE sector was our first ever review of this type. Quality early childhood education can be transformational for children, their parents, and society.
Reviewing this sector was a priority in the Coalition Government’s Action Plan.
Regulation Minister David Seymour announced the review on 5 June 2024. The Ministry delivered its final report on the review to the Minister in December 2024. He accepted the review's recommendations and took them to Cabinet in early 2025 where they were all accepted.
The Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office will work together to implement the recommendations as quickly as possible. The Ministry of Education will undertake consultation as part of their response and implementation of the recommendations.
Regulatory Review of Early Childhood Education – full report
Scope of the review
The ECE regulatory review was designed to make a tangible difference for parents by ensuring that the regulatory framework enables early childhood education to be supportive, nurturing, and a beneficial experience for both children and their parents.
The scope of the review was broad, and examined the regulatory systems for education, health, safety, child protection, food safety, buildings, and workplaces as they apply to the early childhood education sector. We did not look at funding settings for the sector.
The terms of reference for the ECE regulatory review outline the objectives, scope, roles, and methodology of the review, including the milestones.
We worked closely with the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office throughout and consulted sector representatives and government agencies as the terms of reference were developed.
How the ECE regulatory sector review was conducted
We worked with a range of other agencies during the review, especially the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office, and sector groups and representatives, including:
- unions
- interest groups
- research organisations, and
- a range of different providers.
We worked with an inter-agency forum comprising a wider set of government agencies with regulatory functions in the ECE sector, such as WorkSafe NZ, New Zealand Police and Oranga Tamariki to test recommendations, and consider implementation in parallel to the review.
This approach meant that while the review was underway, we could identify quick wins that sit with other responsible agencies and could be progressed immediately rather than waiting for the formal review to be completed.
Clarifying ECE licensing misconception to make things easieropen_in_new
The review team was based in the Ministry for Regulation and included staff from the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office.
The regulatory sector review was a thorough check-up of how the Government regulates early childhood education. The Ministry for Regulation looked closely at why the Government is involved, how well the current rules are working, and what effects they have, including how they make things cost more or less. The review focused on the biggest issues, especially those that affect a lot of people or cost a lot, to find ways to make things better.
Using existing research, both domestic and international, the review aimed to build on previous work. This included how different groups work together in this area. This review is important because it helps make sure that the rules are good for everyone and make economic sense, saving time and improving outcomes for our children.
Engagement and consultation
To support our information gathering for this review we engaged with those impacted by, and subject to, the early childhood education regulatory system, including:
- regulated parties, such as ECE business owners
- those who regulate the sector such as the Ministry of Education
- interested groups, such as:
- unions
- child advocacy organisations
- research bodies
- the early childhood education workforce, and
- the parents and caregivers who use the services of ECE providers.
We received over 2,320 submissions and written feedback from parents, teachers, centre owners, child advocacy groups, unions, research bodies, and others connected to the sector, in addition to information gathered from various face-to-face meetings across the country.