Non-enrolled (including school-aged) children on session
We are pleased to advise we have received draft advice from the Ministry of Education about how non-enrolled (including school-age) children can be accommodated within licensed numbers and ratios at early childhood services including Playcentres.
We now need to update the Playcentre Aotearoa Enrolment and Attendance Policy and are seeking input from interested people who can help us develop procedures to sit alongside the policy. If you are interested, please send your contact details to [email protected] by 15 September and we will be in contact with you when we are ready to consult with members.
Absence Funding
Funding for short-term absences
Short-term absences related to winter-illness or COVID-19 do not always require an absence exemption.
Under the normal absence rules funding support for when a child is away includes:
- the three-week rule provides funding for three weeks of continuous absence regardless of reason
- the frequent absence rule allows for three months of irregular attendance before an enrolment agreement needs to be changed.
Playcentres should consider how these supports protect a child’s funding claim before applying an absence exemption as this may reduce the need to complete EC12 or EC13 forms for absences prior to 11 August 2022.
Fourth month of frequent absence patterns
As we move into September it is important that Playcentres are mindful of the frequent absence pattern of their children.
September is the fourth month since the count for the frequent absence rule was reset on 1 June 2022. This means:
- funding for children who have had the same frequent absence pattern identified in June, July and August
- must have their September enrolment agreement changed to match the pattern of the child’s attendance.
Funding should not be claimed for the child’s continuing pattern of absences in the fourth month. The frequent absence reports in your SMS can help identify the month of the child’s frequent absence pattern.
Absence exemptions
An absence exemption can be applied in your SMS for children affected by winter-illness or COVID-19 to protect against the three-week and frequent absence rules.
Through the exemption, up to 12-weeks of continuous absences can be claimed. Absences for the period of the exemption would not count towards a child’s frequent absence pattern.
For absence exemptions from:
- 1 June to 10 August 2022 Playcentres are required to complete EC12 and EC13 forms. EC13 forms can be completed by a parent or guardian in place of a medical practitioner during this time.
- 11 August to 30 September there is no requirement to complete an EC12 and EC13 form, and the absence exemption can be applied in your SMS.
For absences of four weeks or more parents will need to complete a ‘statement of intention to return’ or ‘reconfirmation of enrolment to provide the evidence that a child has not permanently left Playcentre.
You must not claim funding for children who have left your Playcentre.
If you need clarification on this, please contact your Playcentre Regional Funding Administrator.
National Education Learning Priorities and Te Whariki Online
The Ministry of Education are updating Te Whāriki Online to provide an overview of the National Education Learning Priorities in early learning services, centre responsibilities and links to resources.
Subscribe to Te Whāriki Online
Dates and delivery of upcoming resources and webinars will be provided on the Ministry’s social media pages and you can sign up for Te Whāriki Online newsletter here for updates about new resources and upcoming workshops: