This programme is a great way to build your career in early childhood education, and will set you up for further study if you want to complete early childhood teaching degree.

You do not need to work in an early childhood service while studying although this will be helpful and is recommended.

What you will learn

When you achieve this qualification you will know how to:

• Engage in early childhood education practices which reflect Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi and the place of Māori as tangata whenua.
• Apply knowledge of key early childhood teaching, learning and development theories and approaches, and historical influences, to inform and guide practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Implement the philosophy, principles, and practices embodied in Te Whāriki, and supporting resources, to promote children’s learning.
• Provide a healthy, safe, and inclusive environment for the protection, care, wellbeing and education of children/mokopuna as guided by legislative and regulatory requirements and children’s rights (UNCROC).
• Communicate effectively and include cultural protocols, whanaungatanga, and manaakitanga concepts, to develop and maintain inclusive and collaborative relationships with a wide range of people in an early childhood education and care community.
• Manage personal wellbeing and engage in the personal, professional, ethical and reflective practices required of an early childhood educator.
• Support children’s language, culture and identity, through the application of emerging knowledge of cultural competence, with consideration of diverse families and aspirations for their children’s learning.
• Use knowledge of philosophies, perspectives and contexts of early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand, including contemporary Māori and Pasifika education developments and implications for practice, to inform an emerging personal philosophy of practice.

Career Opportunities

This qualification gives you the skills and knowledge to work as an early childhood educator in a range of early childhood settings. You could work in centre-based, home-based, parent-led, hospital-based (as a play specialist assistant), nanny, or culturally based settings, including Pasifika and Māori contexts.

Programme delivery

You will access courses online with academic support from academic staff members. Contact with your academic staff members and other students will occur at regional workshops, noho marae, tutorials and during practicums over the course of your study.

Workshop schedule

June 2026 Workshop Schedule

Noho Marae

In this programme you will attend a two day overnight stay on an urban or rural marae. Attending a noho marae will give you the opportunity to build skills and knowledge needed to teach in a bi-cultural context.

For ākonga enrolled in Tō Tātou Tiriti courses, below are the details for noho marae offered in 2026 as confirmed to date. Please note that while these dates and venues are confirmed, a change might occasionally be required:

Second half of 2026:

All noho marae start at 8.45am on the Saturday and finish at 11.30am on the Sunday.

• 18-19 July 2026: Ōrongomai, Wellington
• 25-26 July 2026: Rereteewhioi Marae, Auckland
• 01-02 August 2026: Ara Marae, Christchurch, Canterbury
• 01-02 Augus 2026t: Terenga Paraoa, Whangārei, Northland
• 08-09 August 2026: Ōrongomai, Wellington
• 08-09 August 2026: Te Oohaaki, Huntly
• 15-16 August 2026: Te Noho Kotahitanga, Auckland
• 15-16 August 2026: Araiteuru, Dunedin
• 22-23 August 2026: Te Whetu-o-te-Rangi, Tauranga
• 29-30 August 2026: Whakatū, Nelson
• 05-06 Sept 2026: Waiokura, Manaia, Taranaki
• 05-06 Sept 2026: Ōnuku Marae, Akaroa, Canterbury. 

If you enrol in a course starting in September or October that has a noho marae as a compulsory course requirement you will not be able to complete the course until after the course end date. You will be awarded a Grade Pending result until you have attended a noho marae in the March - June period.

Practicum

During the Professional Practice 1 (EDU508) course you will gain teaching experience through a five-week practicum at an approved licensed Early Childhood Setting. This offers you the opportunity to work alongside children and qualified early childhood teachers to integrate your learning in relation to everyday teaching experiences. During your practicum placement you are required to actively participate for 30 hours per week (6 hours a day) in the routines of the early childhood centre.

Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) FAQs