The purpose of this qualification is to provide Aotearoa New Zealand with people who can provide practice-based education and care in a specific early childhood context. This is the minimum qualification requirement for licensed home-based educators, and further details can be accessed from the Ministry of Education.

This qualification is for you if you want to work as an early childhood educator, particularly in the home-based sector, or continue on to further study. Through your work, you will help enhance outcomes for families, whānau, and communities, while supporting mokopuna, infants, toddlers, and young children.

As a graduate, you will be able to work independently and self-manage, while taking some responsibility for the performance of others. The level of supervision you work under will depend on the early childhood education (ECE) setting and its regulatory requirements. For example, if you work as a home-based educator, you may work under general supervision while regularly working on your own. In parent-led settings, you may also provide guidance and supervision to others.

Zero fees Offer

This programme is currently offered under zero fees. Please read the terms and conditions to see if you are eligible and to see how you can claim this offer.

Terms and Conditions

What you will learn

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

• Guide the holistic development and learning of children through the application of key early childhood theories and approaches.
• Promote children's learning through observing, planning, implementing and reviewing culturally responsive learning experiences (including play-based experiences) for mokopuna - infants, toddlers, and young children, using knowledge of the child in the context of their whanau, Te Whāriki and supporting documents.
• Provide an environment guided by community and government services, legislation and regulatory requirements, to protect and support the holistic well-being, safety, health, nutrition and care of infants, toddlers, young children/ mokopuna and their whānau/ families.
• Communicate effectively and use strategies to promote cultural, social and emotional competencies, and engage in respectful, reciprocal, and responsive relationships within an early childhood education and care community.
• Reflect on personal and professional development, and implement strategies that manage own health, wellbeing (including resilience) and professionalism in an early childhood setting
• Implement culturally responsive and inclusive ECE practice underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi, Ka Hikitia and Tau Mai Te Reo, through the use of te reo and tikanga Māori with mokopuna/children and whānau/families in early childhood settings.
• Apply knowledge of the diverse philosophical and cultural contexts and approaches informing early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand to develop a personal philosophy of practice.

Workplace component

The programme includes a supervised work placement in an ECE setting of 3 hours per week over 16 weeks for each of the three courses with a total of 144 work placement hours.

• licensed early childhood centre
• licensed home-based setting affiliated to a home-base service or nanny provider
• certificated playgroup setting recognised for funding purposes by the Ministry of Education or Ministry of Health. These will be programmes with a focus on supporting families/whānau and young children

You need to tell us the name of the ECE service where you will be doing your practical work during the online enrolment process.

Career Opportunities

This qualification gives you the skills and knowledge to work in a range of early childhood education (ECE) settings. You may work as an ECE educator, kaimahi, ECE support worker, pou reo (language and cultural support worker), reliever, session leader, or organiser in specific ECE contexts such as parent-led services, playgroups, and Pasifika or Māori settings.

Maximum Programme Completion Time

To be awarded the qualification, the programme must be completed in no more than 2 years of first enrolment, unless there are exceptional circumstances.