Staff and Person Responsible Qualifications
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Parent Support and Information.
All licensed centres and home-based services must meet certain requirements for staff qualifications. There is also a requirement that services have a ‘person responsible’ – this is defined and explained more below.
Person Responsible
For every 50 children in attendance there must be one ‘person responsible’ for supervising children and staff. Persons responsible in teacher-led ECE centres may hold an early childhood education (ECE) or primary teaching qualification. In hospital-based ECE services and home-based ECE services they must hold an ECE teaching qualification. All persons responsible must also hold a practising certificate from the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Staff qualifications relevant to teacher-led centres
At least 50% of staff must hold a recognised ECE qualification (a practising certificate is not required). But the 50% requirement does not mean that 50% of the staff working with children must be ECE qualified. The Ministry of Education calculates the 50% on the number of teachers required to meet adult-child ratios based on the maximum number of children specified on the centre’s licence (licence maximum). The 50% qualified teacher requirement is about the percentage of qualified staff employed and not the percentage present with children during the day.
Any education and care centre (including kindergarten) is legally able to operate with a Primary School qualified teacher as a “Person Responsible” and all untrained staff for at least part of a day or week, or with unqualified relievers all week or for weeks on end.
Furthermore, one member of staff can be counted in the 50% qualified staff requirement who is not qualified – as long as this person is studying for a recognised qualification is in their final year of study (will qualify within 12 months).
The full names and staff qualifications of each person counting towards the 50% qualification requirement for the centre licence must be prominently displayed for parents and visitors.
An early childhood education (ECE) teaching qualification is defined as one recognised by the Teaching Council for registration purposes. This means:
- an NZ ECE teaching qualification, or
- an overseas qualification assessed as comparable to a NZ ECE teaching qualification by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
Homebased services
- Educators do not need to be qualified teachers – but may be working toward or hold a Level 4 or higher ECE qualification listed on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
- The ‘Person Responsible’ (or visiting teacher ) must have a recognised early childhood education (ECE) teaching qualification and a current practising certificate.
Playcentres
The ‘Person Responsible’ must hold a recognised teaching qualification (see below for more) but is not required to hold a practising certificate with the Teaching Council.
The qualifications for the person responsible include: NZ Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4); or Playcentre Practice (course 4 of the Playcentre Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education); or NZ Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5); or Playcentre in Context (course 5 of the Playcentre Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education); or the Playcentre Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education; or The NZ Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6); or An Early Childhood Education teaching qualification approved by the Teaching Council.
Te Kōhanga Reo
The ‘Person Responsible’ must hold a recognised teaching qualification (see below for more) but is not required to hold a practising certificate with the Teaching Council.
At least one adult is required to hold the qualification Tino Rangatiratanga Whakapakari Tohu recognised by the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust or be in their final year of training and working with a second adult who holds attestation as a recognised native speaker, – or one adult in the final year of training plus one in four families undertaking training in Te Ara Tuatahi or Te Ara Tuarua to support the acquisition and use of te reo Māori by whānau in the home and in the Kōhanga Reo.
Failing to meet minimum standards
The Ministry of Education needs to know:
- If you are concerned children’s needs are not being met.
- If you are concerned a service is not meeting a minimum legal requirement for staff qualifications oir the person responsible.
READ MORE: How to make a complaint and your options.
CAUTION: This page and the information here is provided as part of the My ECE Guide to Early Childhood Service Regulations and Licensing Criteria for Parents (The Guide). The Guide does not purport to be a full and accurate interpretation of all statutory provisions relating to early childhood education services. While best efforts have been used in preparing this guide, no representations or warranties of any kind are made and My ECE assumes no liabilities of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the content. Please note that the Government and Ministry of Education may change, update, or alter any of the requirements at any time. Please help to keep the information on this page up to date by letting us know of changes that need to be made.
Thank you! Kia pai te rā
Reference:
My ECE Guide to Early Childhood Service Regulations and Licensing Criteria for Parents. Prepared by Dr Sarah Alexander and Warwick Marshall.
