He Pānui Kōhungahunga
COVID-19 update - 3 February 2022
He Pānui Kōhungahunga
Ngā mihi o te Rāpare,
Thank you for your continued feedback. This helps us to provide the information that you need most as you manage under the Red traffic light setting.
In this bulletin we focus on updated traffic light guidance, home-based services at Red, booster vaccination timeframes as well as key funding dates.
The Government is currently receiving advice on the most efficacious use of rapid antigen testing, and we will advise you as soon as we can on those decisions.
Aku mihi,
Iona
Update: Traffic light guidance for licensed early learning services
We have updated our traffic light guidance to reflect the recent move to the Red setting and in light of Omicron now being in our communities.
The key changes in the guidance are as follows:
- services are strongly encouraged not to hold events (Red setting)
- services are encouraged to consider rostering staff across multiple centres as little as possible where practicable and to engage the same relievers as much as possible where practicable (Red setting)
- staff, including relievers, can work at multiple services, but are encouraged to wear a mask if they do so (across all settings).
COVID-19 Protection Framework advice for early learning services [PDF, 222 KB]
Key things early learning services need to know – Te Reo [PDF, 141 KB]
Key things early learning services need to know – English [PDF, 137 KB]
We are working on updated detailed guidance for certified playgroups.
Home-based services at Red
We recognise that the scenarios facing home-based services at this time are often different than those present in centre-based services. Here are some clarifications for home-based services about operating in the Red setting.
Visiting teachers
At Red, visiting teachers are able to carry out their monthly visits to support educators and observe children in person.
Like other visitors to an early learning service, visiting teachers must wear a face mask when indoors at homes where education and care is taking place and follow other public health measures as appropriate. You may consider taking some of visits outdoors if the property and weather allow this.
Equally, while in the Red setting, visiting teachers are able to connect with educators through electronic means (Zoom, Facetime) in order to fulfil the visit requirements. You will likely have good procedures in place around this from time spent at Alert Level 3 in 2020 and 2021.
A combination of engagement methods might be appropriate in order to minimise the number of physical interactions a visiting teacher has each day or week. This is something for service providers to determine, in consultation with their educators, teachers and participating families.
As with most things at the moment, a degree of flexibility might be required as framework settings change.
Visiting teachers should ensure they are keeping accurate records of any in-person visits for contact tracing purposes.
Masks
At Red, visitors must wear a mask while indoors at licensed early learning services. The table shows some categories of people that may be in a home-based service and whether they are required to wear a mask. Even if a person is not mandated to wear a mask, they may choose to or be encouraged to do so.
| Why are they there? | Do they need to wear a mask? |
|---|---|
| Educators/nanny | Masks not required by those providing education and care in licensed early childhood services. |
| Parents/caregivers picking up their child from the educator’s house | Masks required while indoors. |
| People who live in the home where education and care is taking place (educator’s family members) | Masks not required but encouraged in communal areas when the children are present. If care is taking place in the child’s home, then this is not necessary. |
| Tradesperson coming into the home to make essential repairs | Masks required while indoors. |
| Visiting teacher doing regularly monthly visits | Masks required while indoors. |
| Children attending the home for OSCAR | Masks not required. |
| Non-essential visitors, such as an educator’s friend or family member | No non-essential visitors at Red. |
Parent vaccination status
As you will be aware from previous bulletins, the general principle set out in the legislation establishing the COVID-19 Protection Framework is that parents cannot be prevented from accessing education for their children, or coming on site at education and care premises, due to their vaccination status.
Key health measures under the framework – Early Learning Bulletin 25 January
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order (No 3) 2021 – New Zealand Legislation
You will also know that from Wednesday 2 January, the Vaccinations Order requires service providers to only offer licensed home-based education and care in homes where everyone who lives there meets the vaccination requirements.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 – New Zealand Legislation
We have been asked for clarification on how these two rules interact when parents wish to have their child cared for in their own home.
To confirm, in order to meet your responsibilities under the Vaccinations Order, before agreeing to offer licensed home-based education and care in a home, you must know the vaccination status of anyone aged 12 and older living there. This includes a child’s parents if they wish for care to take place in their own home.
If parents choose not to tell you whether they are vaccinated, then you must assume they are not. This means you are not able to offer the service at their home. The family could still access education and care at another home where the occupants met the vaccination requirements.
Booster vaccination timeframes
As you will be aware, the required waiting time for a Pfizer booster vaccine has been reduced.
From tomorrow Friday 4 February all New Zealanders aged 18 or older can now receive a Pfizer booster three months after completing their primary course of vaccinations. That means the booster is available 93 days after a second vaccine dose (or third for those who are immune compromised).
This change in availability of boosters does not impact on the mandated booster dates for workers covered by the Vaccination Order.
The mandated timeframe remains the same as detailed in the Order and advised in our 25 January bulletin.
Public Health Order requiring mandatory booster doses – Early Learning Bulletin 25 January
RS7 Returns reminder
On 1 March we will pay the next instalment of ECE funding to licensed early learning services that have submitted their RS7 Return by Tuesday 8 February.
Please note that this information does not apply to playgroups.
Services that submit their RS7 Return after 8 February but before 7 March will receive funding on Monday 21 March.
Emails acknowledging receipt of the RS7 Returns are sent out to services. If you do not receive an acknowledgement email within two to three working days of your submission, check your student management system (SMS) or ELI reports and contact us ece.funding@education.govt.nz.
Funding notices will be available on the Secure Data Portal on the payment date. We don’t provide confirmation of amounts prior to this date. All services will also receive an addendum with their funding advice notice explaining the negative wash-up calculation.
Updated funding link
The link to the RS7 Return questions and answers has been updated:
Targeted Funding for Disadvantage
The objective of Targeted Funding is to improve educational equity by providing an early learning environment of quality and affordability for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Targeted Funding letters for the March 2022–February 2023 funding period will be available on the Secure Data Portal at close of business on Friday 4 February.
All service providers will receive a letter confirming their eligibility status. Eligible services will be advised of their entitled amount and how this was calculated.
For any questions contact ece.funding@education.govt.nz.
Home-based visiting teacher support payment
Home-based services are eligible for additional funding for visiting teachers to support these educators in training if the service receives the standard funding rate and has at least one educator studying towards completing a Level 4 qualification or Te Ara Tuarua (the Level 5 kōhanga reo qualification).
To receive the payment, eligible services must attest that they have had an educator studying towards a required qualification during the previous funding period.
We recommend that the attestation is completed at the same time as you submit your RS7 attendance data, but it can be submitted at any time.
The attestation form is available on our website:
Application forms – Ministry of Education
The attestation for the March 2022 funding period (October 2021 to January 2022) must be completed by Tuesday 8 February to be included in the 1 March 2022 payment.
If received after 8 February, the payment will be made at the next available payment.
For more information refer to the Frequently asked questions or to our home-based staff qualification changes on our website.
Frequently asked questions – Ministry of Education
Home-based staff qualification changes – Ministry of Education
For any questions contact ece.funding@education.govt.nz.
Submissions on network management process
A reminder that public submissions to the Education and Workforce Select Committee on network management proposals close at midnight on Friday 18 February.
The Government agreed to proceed with changes to the Education and Training Act 2020 following public consultation late last year.
The changes have been introduced via a Supplementary Order Paper being considered by the Select Committee on network management.
Education and Training Amendment Bill (2) – New Zealand Legislation
You can find out more about how to make a submission on the network proposals at Education and Training Amendment Bill (No 2) - New Zealand Parliament,
For more information about the network management proposals and a summary report of consultation feedback is on our website.
