Enrolment information

Calling New Members – Find out more about Playcentre Education 

Where should I begin:

All learners start with PE1 Ūkaipōtanga – Let’s Play.  This module is offered as face-to-face workshops, webinar workshops or self-paced online learning.

Check out the Upcoming Workshops and Online Modules to find workshops and online modules starting soon. 

Sign up online for the option you’d like and our Student Support Coordinators will be in touch with an enrolment pack and more information.  The enrolment information and criteria below explains more details about enrolment eligibility and processes.

Enrolment in the Playcentre Education programme

NZ Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (level 4)

Eligibility to enrol.

  • Be at least 17 years old.
  • Provide evidence that you are a ‘domestic student.’
  • The certificate is an English-language qualification – a sufficient level of English is required to study at Level 4.   

A ‘domestic student’ is a citizen of New Zealand (including students from the Cook Islands, Tokelau, or Niue) or a person who holds a New Zealand resident class visa or a citizen of Australia or holder of a resident visa for Australia who is residing in NZ. The evidence required for a citizen is one of the following: A Birth certificate with place of birth stated as New Zealand, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue or Australia or a NZ or Australian Passport. The evidence for a resident class visa is the NZ residency stamp in the Overseas Passport or a letter from Immigration New Zealand stating the person has a resident class visa. Special provisions apply to certain overseas military personnel, diplomatic staff and their families or persons associated with Operation Deep Freeze and for refugees. Playcentre Education cannot enrol non-domestic (International) students. This also applies to non-residents in NZ on a work or visitor visa. Other providers are accredited to accept international students.  Please contact the Education team can discuss options for whānau who do not meet eligibility requirements. 

  • Complete a Safety Check.

A safety check is required by the Children’s Act 2014 for learners in an Early Childhood educational or vocational training programme involving practical experience in a licensed early childhood service (Playcentre). It will be carried out confidentially. This check requires confirmation of your identity. Two forms of ID must be sighted, one primary and one secondary, one of which must be photographic. Verified copies of these identity documents must accompany the forms.

– Primary ID documents are a Passport, full Birth Certificate or Citizenship Certificate.
– Secondary ID documents are a NZ Drivers licence or an 18+ card or a Community Services Card.
– If the documents are in different names, you will need a change of name document – a marriage or civil union certificate – this is also helpful if your National Student Number (NSN) is in a previous name.

Practical experience will take place in a Playcentre or pre-arranged early learning service.  Before enrolling the Playcentre Education programme, complete an induction to your local Playcentre.

Those with a Playcentre Course 4, 5 or 6 from the Playcentre Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education programme or a level 5, 6 or 7 Early Childhood qualification from another Tertiary Provider are not eligible to enter the level 4 programme. If you have a level 4 qualification in Early Childhood or a related field (eg. a Nanny certificate) you should seek advice from the Education Lead as to whether you can enter this programme.

All students should read the Student Handbook Student Information Handbook January 2023

Verifying Documents

Verification of ID documents for Safety Checking for staff and students can be carried out by a Playcentre employee preferably, or alternatively by a Person Responsible at any centre.

7.2.3c – How to vertify identity documents for police vets

Verification of ID documents is a requirement of the Safety Checking process for both Playcentre employees and students participating in the Playcentre Education Programme, as provided under the Children’s Act 2014 and the Ministry of Education regulations

For those attending face-to-face workshops, you can these to your workshop along with a photocopy and your workshop tutor can verify the copies (sight the original and sign the photocopy) to accompany your forms for processing.

Alternatively, you can contact a Student Support Coordinator to set up a time to verify your ID via a 1-minute video call.

Further Information About Safety Checking and Police Vetting

All learners will be police vetted under the mandatory requirements of the Children’s Act 2014 as a learner on practicum and as a core worker in an early learning centre. Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi o Aotearoa – Playcentre Aotearoa is the agency who makes the application to the NZ Police vetting Service. A designated person will process the police vet application and the safety check. Your information will be treated confidentially as required by the Privacy Act. T

here is a schedule of very serious offences which would exclude someone from working with children. You will find these listed in The Children’s Act 2014 (formerly the Vulnerable Children’s Act 2014) which can be read at http://www.legislation.govt.nz.

Fees Free

The NZ Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care Level 4 is free (zero fees). From January 2023 government policy is that learners will not consume fees free eligibility credits for study where a learner is enrolled in a zero fees programme for a level 3 or above course which would be eligible for fees free provision if fees were charged.   Any questions about fees free or study funding – Contact Glenda Caradus 

We do not charge tuition fees for our modules but if weekend courses or training events attract extra accommodation, travel, or food costs you may be asked to meet these.  If there are such costs you will be advised of costs and the policy about refunds if you cancel before the event. Some centres may support travel and babysitting costs while you progress through your study, but this is not always possible. Your centre education officer will be able to tell you of any financial assistance available.

Reading resources are provided as electronic copies or available at your local Playcentre library and a limited number of Chromebooks are available on loan to online learners.