Family Start - the Early Learning Programme
The Early Learning Programme provides financial assistance to families who are enrolled in selected Family Start or Early Start programmes to enable their children to participate in early childhood education.
To be eligible, a family must:
- be enrolled in a Family Start or Early Start programme that has been selected to participate in the Early Learning Programme
- have a dependent child who is aged between 18 months and 36 months and who is enrolled in an approved early-childhood programme
- have New Zealand residency.
The Early Learning Programme pays up to $6.35 per hour for a child to attend a licensed centre for:
- 20 hours per week for a child aged 18 to 30 months
- 15 hours per week for a child aged 30 to 36 months.
Benefits of Early Childhood Education
Children benefit educationally and developmentally from participating in high quality early childhood education.
Early childhood education provides
- a strong foundation for learning in later years and encourages children to develop to their full potential
- skills for children to interact socially with other children which can improve educational achievement at school
- benefits to parents.
MSD will evaluate whether the programme is an effective way of increasing participation in quality early childhood education by Family/Early Start children.
Participating Locations
The following Family/Early Start locations are participating in the Early Learning Pilot project:
Region |
Provider |
|---|---|
| Kaitaia | Te Runanga o Te Rarawa |
| Whangarei | Ngati Hine Health Trust |
| West Auckland | Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust |
| Auckland | Anglican Trust for Women and Children Family Start |
| Manukau | Manukau Family Start |
| Hamilton | Kirikiriroia Family Services Trust |
| Rotorua | Tipu Ora Family Start |
| Gisborne | Te Runanga O Ngati Porou |
| Hastings | Te Taiwhenua O Heretaunga |
| Whakatane | Ngati Awa Social and Health Services Trust |
| Kawerau | Tuwharetoa Ki Kawerau Hauora |
| Opotiki | Te Ha o te Whanau |
| Horowhenua | Te Runanga O Raukawa |
| Wanganui | Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority |
| Masterton | Whaiora Whanui Trust |
| Porirua | Te Roopu Awhina Family Start |
| Lower Hutt | Naku Enei Tamariki |
| Nelson | He Matapuna Ora Trust |
| Christchurch | Early Start Project Ltd |
| Dunedin | Anglican Family Care |
| Invercargill | Family Works |
Contact
Keri Brown
Family Start team
Family and Community Services
Phone: (04) 978 4124
Email: Keri Brown
