Non-enrolled (including school-aged) children on session

The Ministry of Education have now released advice about how non-enrolled (including school-age) children can be accommodated within licensed numbers and ratios at early childhood services, including Playcentres. 

Non-enrolled children visiting licensed early childhood education and care centres – Ministry of Education

Thank you to those who have volunteered for the working party to update the Playcentre Aotearoa Enrolment and Attendance Policy. We will have more information about this in the next few weeks.

Returning to Playcentre following illness

Diarrhoea & Vomiting:

  • If a child is symptom free for 48 hours after the last episode, then they can attend session again.

Other considerations: 

  • If a child has been unwell with a respiratory illness other than COVID-19, they can return to their early learning service 24 hours after they have significantly improved and are behaving/eating normally.
  • If they still have a runny nose or dry cough without any other symptoms such as a fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, then they are unlikely to be infectious and can be considered well enough to attend their early learning service.
  • In general, a doctor’s certificate or clearance should not have to be provided for a child to go back to their early learning service after being unwell.

Please refer to the Ministry of Health : Infectious diseases chart for further information (Document dated February 2022) 

Extended funding settings

Playcentres that were on the quality rate on 1 June 2022 will remain on the quality rate for the June to September period.

The following funding settings that were used in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been extended as they were set to lapse on 30 September 2022:

  • The Emergency Closure funding can continue to be accessed by services who are unable open due to the impact of COVID-19 on staffing until 31 October.
  • The Frequent Absence Rule will be reset on 1 October 2022.
  • The Absence Exemptions can be accessed for children who are unwell with COVID-19 until 31 October.
  • The 10 discretionary situations will be available to Playcentres for the October 2022 to January 2023 funding period.

Please contact your Regional Funding Administrator if you have any questions about these.