Supervision Requirements
Playcentre operates as a whānau cooperative, where all parents/caregivers are kaiako and contribute to the care and education of all tamariki. Group supervision, i.e. working cooperatively for whānau-led learning, is an integral part of what makes Playcentre different from other ECE services in our communities and what makes Playcentre a strong whānau support network.
For each session, all Playcentres must:
- Ensure that at least one person takes the role of Person Responsible and holds a recognised qualification and
- use a supervision plan approved by Playcentre Aotearoa, and
- have no more than 30 children attending, and
- have a maximum adult:child ratio of 1:5, and
- ensure that all children under 2 and a half years of age are accompanied by a parent or caregiver
Prior to the term, each centre will submit a Supervision Approval Plan based on their session enrolments, specifying the names, awards/qualifications and first aid certificates for members planning to attend each session in the upcoming term. A regional employee will approve this plan if it meets the below requirements. On any actual day, the centre must meet the requirements for the actual number of children attending (i.e. if the actual child numbers are different from the enrolled child numbers, the requirements for actual attendance apply.) Visiting children accompanied by a caregiver do not count towards requirements.
Playcentre Aotearoa Supervision Requirements for Standard Funding
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- Adult is actively participating in the Playcentre Education programme or holds PIA or above
- In this context, PIA = Playcentre Introductory Award. An equivalent or higher award including the Playcentre Education Award (PEA), Course 2-6 of the previous Playcentre Diploma in Adult and Early Childhood Education, or another qualification that meets the Person Responsible requirements meets this requirement.
- Those holding a Level 7 primary teaching qualification must also hold the Playcentre Primary Teacher Bridging Award (PPTBA).
- For Playcentre-facilitated parent-infant programmes such as Space and Babies can Play, all infants are accompanied by their primary caregiver. At least one facilitator holds the Person Responsible qualification requirements as well infant programme training. A second facilitator is recommended but not required.
- Regional teams have the ability to approve short-term “internal provisional exemptions” for centres that meet the Person Responsible requirement but not the secondary award requirements. This will only be granted for short-term situations where a plan to complete education awards is underway.
Playcentre Aotearoa Supervision Requirements for Quality Funding
The supervision plan requirements for quality funding were updated 1 May 2025, with the addition of an option that recognises higher ratios. To be eligible for quality funding, centres must maintain quality qualification requirements across all sessions.
As listed in the ECE funding handbook, there are two options for quality funding:
- Option 1 – Ratio of 1 adult: 5 children and higher level qualifications
- Option 2 – Higher ratios + an additional award
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Notes:
- Where the Person Responsible holds a Level 5+ qualification, quality funding options 1d-1h may be more practical to meet than option 2.
First Aid Requirements
All centres must have 1 first aid qualified person for every 25 children, and the unit standards that meet the requirements of the licensing criteria for a first aid qualification are 6401 – Provide First Aid and 6402 – Provide Resuscitation Level 2; these core health unit standards, which cover first aid for both children and adults, may also be considered suitable for home-based services.
Further details can be found below:
Be in contact with your Regional Manger, for centre specific details