Cohort Entry

 

 

2027 start dates:

• Term 1 – 3 February or 8 March.

• Term 2 – 27 April or 31 May.

• Term 3 – 19 July or 23 August.

• Term 4 – 11 October or 15 November.

The start dates are set by the Minister of Education. Schools using cohort entry must use these dates and cannot change them.

We acknowledge that this will be a change for families and that parents will be requesting that children stay on at ECE until the specified cohort entry date – ECE hours after a child has turned 5 are still available. They can be accessed up until a child turns 6. We are hoping that early notification of the change will allow enough preparation time for all concerned.  Please see additional funding notes below:

 

Funding for 5 to 6 year olds

In New Zealand, early childhood education (ECE) funding is available for children between 5 and 6 years old, provided they are not yet enrolled in primary school.

The primary funding mechanism is the 20 Hours ECE scheme. While it is often talked about as a subsidy for 3 and 4-year-olds, it officially extends to 5-year-olds right up until their 6th birthday, or until they start school.

Here is exactly how the funding and rules apply to children in this age bracket:

1. The 20 Hours ECE Subsidy

If your child is 5 years old and you choose to delay their start to primary school, they remain fully eligible for the 20 Hours ECE scheme.

• The Limit: It covers up to 6 hours a day and a maximum of 20 hours per week of free early childhood education.
• When it ends: Eligibility strictly cuts off on either the day before their 6th birthday or their first day of primary school, whichever happens first.

2. General ECE Funding Subsidy (Up to 30 Hours)

Even if you use more than 20 hours a week, the government still provides a baseline ECE Funding Subsidy directly to licensed childcare centres for any child up to the age of 6. This subsidy is paid for up to 30 hours a week and helps keep the overall hourly fees lower for those extra hours.

3. What About Other Subsidies?

If you are looking at additional financial help outside of the universal 20 Hours ECE, the rules shift slightly once a child turns 5:

• WINZ Childcare Subsidy: This income-tested subsidy normally stops once a child turns 5. However, there are exceptions. You can still get it for a 5-year-old if they are attending an ECE service while waiting to start at a cohort entry school (where new entrants start together on a set date after turning 5), or if you receive the Child Disability Allowance for them.
• FamilyBoost: This tax rebate (which allows families to claim back a percentage of their fees) applies to families with children aged 5 or under attending a licensed ECE centre, depending on household income.

Important Reminder: In New Zealand, education does not legally become compulsory until a child turns 6. However, if you choose to enrol your 5-year-old in a primary school, they are officially considered a school student from their first day of attendance, and all ECE-specific funding stops immediately.