Are you missing out on ECE funding?

Are you missing out on thousands of dollars of Early Childhood Education (ECE) funding?

When you’re starting out, finding the right childcare option can seem like such a minefield and the issue of early childhood education (ECE) funding is often overlooked.
 
Most parents know about their eligibility to receive up to 20 ECE hours per week at a childcare centre once their child turns 3 years old, but very few know that by employing a nanny or even a relative to look after their little one(s) at home can give them access to up to 30 ECE hours per week.

That can represent an additional $2,000 to $5,000 a year per child aged 0 to 5 years old.
 

Are you missing out on ECE funding?

Unfortunately there is a general lack of communication around ECE funding and many families are not aware of the subsidies they are entitled to, particularly if they join a home-based education programme.
 

Joining a home-based education programme

Not all families want to spend money on nanny agency fees and prefer to recruit their nanny online or through word of mouth.

However in order to claim funding for ECE hours, you must be part of a home-based education programme run by a nanny agency licenced by the Ministry of Education.

“We had one family in Wellington who hired a nanny privately for 3 years and then wanted to use an agency. After talking to them, we realised that they had been missing out on $8,250 worth of funding as they thought their children, aged 1 and 3, were too young to get ECE funding,” says Lisa Bentley, the owner of KiwiOz Nannies, a nanny agency in Auckland and Wellington.

But all is not lost, and if you feel you can recruit a nanny and carry out all the checks yourself, or employ a family member to look after your children, you can still join a programme, usually for free, by contacting a nanny agency licenced by the Ministry of Education.
 

Requirements for receiving up to 30 ECE hours

ECE funding is not income based, but some requirements have to be met before you receive up to 30 hours ECE funding, such as: 
 

• Your property must be fully fenced or include a fenced area for your child/ren where they can play outdoors safely, and a child safety first aid kit must be in your home.

 

• The agency will carry out a house safety check and make sure your nanny’s first aid certificate and police check are up to date.

 

• Your nanny will have to record your child’s learning and a qualified and registered Early Childhood Teacher will visit monthly to support them in their role.

Apart from getting access to funding, joining a home-based education programme will give your child access to a range of resources and activities.

Source: This article was written by Helene Girard at KiwiOz Nannies - NZ’s most referred nanny & educator placement agency.