As previously advised, Budget 2023 made changes to the 20 Hours ECE subsidy, to extend the subsidy to include two-year-olds, increase the subsidy rate and introduce new funding conditions.

These changes take effect from 1 March 2024 and the Funding Handbook will be formally updated at that time.

However, to give the sector time to understand the changes and prepare, the updated chapter of the Funding Handbook is available now. It is for reference only until 1 March 2024.

20 Hours ECE for ECE services – Ministry of Education

We are also working with a sector technical advisory group to develop a guidance document on the changes. It should be available around the end of September on the same web page.

The digital identity team delivered the electronic delegated authoriser (DA) functionality to early childhood services in March 2022.

We contacted the individual delegated authorisers at that time and informed them about the requirement to undergo training within six months to gain access to the electronic DA functionality.

Electronic online delegated authorisers can:

• send invites to staff so they can access applications on behalf of your organisation
• maintain user details and staff access
• unlock accounts for staff that have 'locked' their accounts
• reset ESL passwords for staff
• generate reports with staff access details.                                                                                                 

You can complete the ESL delegated authoriser training module to take advantage of these features.

Education learning management system login – Ministry of Education

Note that as of 11 September, the ESL 110 form will no longer be available for ECE users for requesting ESL access. To become a delegated authoriser for your organisation, you can request this access via ESL 100 form:

ESL delegated authoriser application [PDF, 275 KB]

For further information about what your responsibilities are as an online delegated authoriser visit:

Support for online delegated authorisers – Ministry of Education

To find information on the 2023 Action Plan go to our website or Kōrero Mātauranga where you can also access:

• the full digital copy of the 2023 refreshed Action Plan, support tools and additional resources and
• the policy statement on Pacific languages in education.

Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020-2030 – Ministry of Education

Action Plan for Pacific Education – Kōrero Mātauranga

Hardcopies of the 2023 refreshed Action Plan for early learning services will be available to order from the end of September. These can also be ordered online or by emailing orders@thechair.minedu.govt.nz. 

Login – Down the Back of the Chair

Translated summaries of the 2023 refreshed Action Plan will be available to download online, in late September.

Email pacific.educationconversation@education.govt.nz if you have any queries.

Following feedback from the sector we have created a direct link from the 0–6 years early learning website to the education learning management system.

This means you can now access the digital child protection eLearning resource more quickly from here:

Education learning management system login – Ministry of Education

Aroturuki Tamariki has recently been given responsibility to monitor the Oranga Tamariki system. They now have oversight of tamariki in care, as well as any tamariki or rangatahi who are receiving or have previously received services or support through the Oranga Tamariki system. This includes interventions aimed at supporting whānau and enabling tamariki to be cared for by their own communities.

The voices of those experiencing these services are at the heart of its monitoring approach, with a focus on tamariki and rangatahi, and their whānau. Aroturuki Tamariki also want to hear from those who deliver services and those who provide support for this group of tamariki and rangatahi. They would be interested in hearing from regional leaders, early learning leaders, teachers | kaiako and those in non-teaching roles about what is working well, and what needs changing to improve outcomes (including education) for tamariki.

You can find out more about Aroturuki Tamariki, including when they will be visiting your community, at:

Aroturuki Tamariki – New Zealand Government

You might hear from them when they’re planning the visit to your community, or if you’d like to contact the Aroturuki Tamariki team direct email info@aroturuki.govt.nz.

Help protect your pēpi and tamariki from getting very sick this winter. Flu vaccines are free for pēpi and tamariki aged 6 months to 12 years.

Free flu (influenza) vaccine – Te Whatu Ora

The Heart Foundation has partnered with Women’s Health Action (WHA) to develop a professional development session on feeding pēpi in care.

Topics covered include:

• how to support breastfeeding in early learning services
• bottle feeding
• mixed feeding
• first foods for babies in early learning services.

Resources to support your early learning service kaiako and whānau are available, as is support with meeting ECE regulations.

There two online sessions via MS Teams:

• 8 August, 7:30–8:30pm
• 10 August, 10–11am.

Register online:

Professional development for early learning service staff – Heart Foundation

Nappy rash barrier preparations in licensed early learning services have to date been managed within the medicines categories HS28 Appendix 3 (centre-based); HS25 Appendix 2 (home-based)). We are now clarifying that early learning services no longer need to manage nappy rash barrier preparations as part of the categories of medicine.
 
Refer to updated guidance on our website to support early learning services in managing and/or preventing nappy rash occurrences. This guidance was developed in consultation with Te Whatu Ora, National Public Health Service, Greater Wellington Region. This guidance was developed in consultation with Te Whatu Ora, National Public Health Service, Greater Wellington Region.
 
Guidance on the use of nappy rash barrier preparations in ECE services – Ministry of Education

Several services have reported concerns about whānau not appropriately using car restraints when transporting tamariki to and from their early learning service.

Under New Zealand law, all children under seven years of age must use an approved child restraint appropriate for their age and size. Children aged seven must be secured in a restraint if one is available in the vehicle.

The driver is responsible for ensuring that any child travelling in their vehicle is correctly secured using an appropriate child restraint.

Waka Kotahi NZ has important car restraint guidance material you can share with the whānau at your service:

Requirements for using child restraints in New Zealand – Waka Kotahi

If this approach does not result in the correct use of child restraints, Police are the correct authority to contact.

Contact us – New Zealand Police

In some situations, it may be appropriate to also contact Oranga Tamariki.

Contact us – Oranga Tamariki