Licensed Services and Licence-Exempt Groups 2006

1. Number of Early Childhood Education Services

As at 1 July 2006:

• There were 4,496 early childhood education services, an increase of 1.4 percent (60) from 1 July 2005
• There were 3,665 licensed and/or chartered services, an increase of 1.9 percent (67) from 1 July 2005
• There were 831 licence-exempt ECE groups, a decrease of 0.8 percent (7) from 1 July 2005
• The number of early childhood education services has increased by 6.3 percent (268) since 2002 (see Table 1).

 

The following is Table 1, titled - Number of early childhood education services as at 1 July, by service type (2002 - 2006)

Type of service	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	# change (02-06)	% change (02-06)
Licensed Services
Kindergartens	606	609	614	618	619	13	2.1
Playcentres	492	482	481	482	474	-18	-3.7
Education and care	1,612	1,673	1,730	1,754	1,842	230	14.3
Homebased network	194	190	192	201	202	8	4.1
Kōhanga reo	545	526	513	501	486	-59	-10.8
Correspondence School	1	1	1	1	1	NC	NC
Casual-education and care	38	42	43	41	41	3	7.9
Sub-Total	3,488	3,523	3,574	3,598	3,665	177	5.1
Licence-Exempt ECE Groups
Playgroups	541	562	599	641	667	126	23.3
Pacific Island Early Childhood Groups	133	121	113	106	93	-40	-30.1
Ngā Puna Kōhungahunga	24	32	43	49	41	17	70.8
Playcentres	28	30	32	31	22	-6	-21.4
Licence-Exempt Te Kōhanga Reo	14	12	13	11	8	-6	-42.9
Sub-Total	740	757	800	838	831	91	12.3
TOTAL	4,228	4,280	4,374	4,436	4,496	268	6.3

 

• Of the 3,664 (excludes Correspondence School) licensed and/or chartered early childhood education services, 67.4 percent (2,470) are community based. The remaining 32.6 percent (1,194) are privately owned services.
• Of the 1,893 education and care services (including casual-education and care), which account for 51.3 percent of all services as at 1 July 2006, 42.5 percent (801) are community based and 57.5 percent (1,082) are privately owned.
• Of the 202 homebased networks, 44.6 percent (90) are community based and 55.4 percent (112) are privately owned.

 

2. Enrolments in Early Childhood Education

In 2006, data were not received from 12 licensed services and 136 licence-exempt groups. Table 1 presents a complete count of all services that were open and operating during the census period and includes those services that data were not received from.

The methodology used for dealing with licence-exempt ECE groups that did not provide data has changed for 2006. As a result, enrolment figures presented in section three for licence-exempt ECE groups are not directly comparable with enrolments in 2005. A five-year baseline has been used for trend analysis.

Note that these statistics provide a headcount of enrolments. If a child is enrolled at more than one early childhood service, he or she will be counted more than once.

As at 1 July 2006:

• There were 184,454 children enrolled in early childhood education, an increase of 5.4 percent (9,491) since 2002 (see Table 2)
• There were 165,254 children enrolled in licensed early childhood education services, an increase of 5.8 percent (9,067) since 2002
• There were 19,200 children enrolled in licence-exempt ECE groups, an increase of 2.3 percent (424) since 2002.

 

The following is Table 2, titled - Enrolments in early childhood education as at 1 July, by service type (2002 - 2006)

Type of service	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	# Change (02-06)	% Change (02-06)
Licensed Services
Kindergartens	45,169	45,109	45,287	44,920	44,435	-734	-1.6
Playcentres	14,879	15,200	15,440	15,059	14,888	9	0.1
Education and care	76,246	78,967	81,096	83,889	86,059	9,813	12.9
Homebased network	8,591	9,587	9,922	9,770	9,802	1,211	14.1
Kōhanga reo	10,389	10,319	10,418	10,070	9,493	-896	-8.6
Correspondence School	913	991	922	813	577	-336	-36.8
Casual-education and care	…	…	…	…	...	...	...
Sub-Total	156,187	160,173	163,085	164,521	165,254	9,067	5.8
Licence-Exempt ECE Groups
Playgroups	15,002	16,250	17,744	18,042	17,476	2,474	16.5
Pacific Island Early Childhood Groups	2,914	2,573	2,392	1,864	1,179	-1,735	-59.5
Ngā Puna Kōhungahunga	351	408	571	519	289	-62	-17.7
Playcentres	371	466	530	436	167	-204	-55.0
Licence-Exempt Te Kōhanga Reo	138	130	191	146	89	-49	-35.5
Sub-Total	18,776	19,827	21,428	21,007	19,200	424	2.3
TOTAL	174,963	180,000	184,513	185,528	184,454	9,491	5.4

… Not Applicable as Casual Education and Care services do not have regular enrolments

Note: The methodology used for dealing with licence-exempt ECE groups that did not provide data has changed for 2006. As a result enrolment figures for 2006 are not directly comparable with 2005 for licence-exempt ECE groups.

 

• Of the 86,059 enrolments in education and care services, 42.3 percent (36,430) were in community-based services and 57.7 percent (49,629) were in privately owned services.
• Of the 9,802 enrolments in homebased networks, 40 percent (3,942) were in community-based services and 60 percent (5,860) were in privately owned services.

 

2.1 Enrolments by age

• As at 1 July 2006 five percent (9,304) of children enrolled were under one, 13.5 percent (24,993) were age one, 20.5 percent (37,743) were age two, 29.2 percent (53,870) were age three, 30.6 percent (56,502) were age four and 1.1 percent (2,042) were age five (see Table 3).
• Enrolments for three- and four-year-olds combined have increased by 1.5 percent (1,674) since 2002.

 

The following is Table 3, titled - Enrolments in early childhood education as at 1 July, by age (2002 - 2006)

Age	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	# Change (02-06)	% Change (02-06)
Under 1	8,395	8,976	9,388	9,533	9,304	909	10.8
1 Year	21,759	22,611	23,627	25,049	24,993	3,234	14.9
2 Years	34,256	35,213	35,850	36,695	37,743	3,487	10.2
3 Years	51,525	54,280	54,056	53,594	53,870	2,345	4.6
4 Years	57,173	57,088	59,684	58,550	56,502	-671	-1.2
5 Years	1,855	1,832	1,908	2,106	2,042	187	10.1
TOTAL	174,963	180,000	184,513	185,528	184,454	9,491	5.4
Sub-total 0-4 years	173,108	178,168	182,605	183,421	182,412	9,304	5.4

Note: The methodology used for dealing with licence-exempt ECE groups that did not provide data has changed for 2006. As a result enrolment figures for 2006 are not directly comparable with 2005 for licence-exempt ECE groups.

 

2.1.1 Apparent participation rates

Apparent participation rates are calculated using the total number of children enrolled in early childhood education divided by the total population for each age group. Note because children can enrol at more than one early childhood service double counting will occur causing the apparent participation rate for some age groups to be greater than 100 percent (see Figure 1).

 

The following is Figure 1, titled - Apparent participation rates, by age group (1990 to 2006)

 

2.2 Enrolments by ethnicity

• Of the 184,454 children enrolled as at 1 July 2006, 67.3 percent (124,154) identified as European/Pākehā, 19 percent (35,000) identified as Māori, 6.2 percent (11,492) identified as Pasifika, 5.8 percent (10,782) identified as Asian and 1.6 percent (3,026) identified as Other (see Table 4).
• Since 2002 European/Pākehā enrolments have increased by 4.1 percent (4,857), Māori enrolments have increased by 6.8 percent (2,221), Pasifika enrolments have decreased by 0.2 percent (27), Asian enrolments have increased by 21.2 percent (1,883) and Other enrolments have increased by 22.6 percent (557).

 

The following is Table 4, titled - Enrolments in early childhood education as at 1 July, by ethnic group (2002 and 2006)

Type of Service	European / Pākehā		Māori		Pasifika		Asian		Other
	2002	2006	2002	2006	2002	2006	2002	2006	2002	2006
Licensed Services:
Kindergarten	30,508	28,868	7,561	7,871	3,238	3,358	3,222	3,504	640	834
Playcentre	12,217	11,985	1,828	1,853	286	315	431	511	117	224
Education and care	55,945	61,271	10,041	12,284	4,749	5,822	4,291	5,202	1,220	1,480
Homebased network	7,030	7,749	1,057	1,449	171	191	191	262	142	151
Kōhanga Reo	20	6	10,365	9,480	4	7
Correspondence School	753	487	142	82	6	4	6	2	6	2
Sub-Total	106,473	110,366	30,994	33,019	8,454	9,697	8,141	9,481	2,125	2,691
Licence-Exempt Groups:
Playgroups	12,448	13,630	1,224	1,539	309	701	733	1283	288	323
Pacific Island Early Childhood groups	50	13	56	63	2,749	1,074	13	17	46	12
Ngā Puna Kōhungahunga	28	26	310	243	3	19	3	1	7
Playcentres	298	118	57	48	4	1	9		3
Licence-Exempt Kōhanga Reo		1	138	88
Sub-Total	12,824	13,788	1785	1,981	3,065	1,795	758	1301	344	335
TOTAL	119,297	124,154	32,779	35,000	11,519	11,492	8,899	10,782	2,469	3,026

Note: The methodology used for dealing with licence-exempt ECE groups that did not provide data has changed for 2006. As a result enrolment figures for 2006 are not directly comparable with 2005 for licence-exempt ECE groups.

 

2.3 Enrolments by region

• Auckland had the largest increase in the number of enrolments between 2002 and 2006 (see Table 5).
• Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne regions have both had a decline in enrolments since 2002, 6.2 and 8.1 percent respectively (see Table 5). Population projections indicate a decline in these regions.

 

The following is Table 5, titled - Enrolments in early childhood education as at 1 July, by local body region (2002 and 2006)

Local Body Region	2002	2006	# Change (02-06)	% Change (02-06)
Northland	6,097	6,352	255	4.2
Auckland	51,201	55,321	4,120	8
Waikato	16,864	17,604	740	4.4
Bay of Plenty	12,265	13,022	757	6.2
Gisborne	2,355	2,165	-190	-8.1
Hawke's Bay	8,601	8,068	-533	-6.2
Taranaki	4,778	4,799	21	0.4
Manawatu-Wanganui	9,937	10,130	193	1.9
Wellington	21,296	22,741	1,445	6.8
West Coast	1,306	1,295	-11	-0.8
Canterbury	21,999	24,115	2,116	9.6
Otago	8,101	8,209	108	1.3
Southland	3,720	4,356	636	17.1
Tasman	1,811	2,022	211	11.7
Nelson	1,975	1,968	-7	-0.4
Marlborough	1,719	1,681	-38	-2.2
Chatham Is. County	25	29	4	16
Correspondence School	913	577	-336	-36.8

Note: The methodology used for dealing with licence-exempt ECE groups that did not provide data has changed for 2006. As a result enrolment figures for 2006 are not directly comparable with 2005 for licence-exempt ECE groups.

 

3. Hours of attendance

For licensed and/or chartered services, excluding kōhanga reo¹ and the Correspondence School, the overall average number of enrolled hours per child per week as at July 2006 was 16.9 hours, a 1.8 percent (0.3 hours) increase from July 2005.

Full-time enrolments (more than 27 hours per week) have increased in education and care services by 38.9 percent since 2002 (see Table 6).

Full-time enrolments have nearly doubled in homebased networks since 2002 (see Table 6).

 

The following is Table 6, titled - Enrolments in licensed and/or chartered early childhood education services as at 1 July, by nature of duration (2002 to 2006)

Service Type		2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	% change (02-06)
Kindergarten	Part-time	45,169	45,109	45,287	44,920	44,435	-1.6
Playcentre	Part-time	14,879	15,200	15,440	15,059	14,888	-0.1
Education and care	Part-time	59,138	60,764	60,976	61,678	62,292	5.3
	Full-time	17,108	18,203	20,120	22,211	23,767	38.9
Homebased network	Part-time	7,246	7,362	7,362	7,065	7,204	-0.6
	Full-time	1,345	2,225	2,560	2,705	2,598	93.2
TOTAL	Part-time	126,432	128,435	129,065	128,722	128,819	1.9
	Full-time	18,453	20,428	22,680	24,916	26,365	42.9

Note: Excludes enrolments at Te Kōhanga Reo and The Correspondence School as duration of attendance is not collected.

 

4. Māori language

• Māori language was used as the medium of instruction for at least 12 percent of teaching contact time in 980 licensed and/or chartered services.
• Māori was used as the medium of instruction for 81-100 percent of teaching contact time in 497 licensed and/or chartered services. Of these, 486 were kōhanga reo² and 11 were Māori immersion services. This is a net decrease of 16 services (3.1 percent) from July 2005 due to the drop in kōhanga reo services.
• In addition, 483 services provided Māori as the medium of instruction for 12-80 percent of teaching contact time. Of these services, one was casual-education and care, 65 were kindergartens, 44 were playcentres and 373 were education and care. This is a decrease of nine services (1.8 percent) from July 2005.

 

5. Pasifika languages and Pasifika services

• Pasifika languages were used as the medium of instruction for at least 12 percent of teaching contact time in 118 licensed and/or chartered services.
• Of those 118 services, 54 were immersion (81-100 percent of teaching contact time) involving 1,655 children. Thirty-six immersion services used Samoan as the language of communication, 12 Tongan, three Cook Island Māori and three Niuean.
• The remaining 64 services were identified as bilingual (12-80 percent of teaching contact time) involving 2,278 children. Thirty-seven bilingual services used Samoan as the language of communication, 13 Cook Island Māori, six Tongan, three Niuean, three Tokelauan and two Fijian.
• The majority of Pasifika services were education and care with 110 services. Of the remaining eight services, seven were kindergartens and one was a playcentre.
• Between 2005 and 2006 the number of Pasifika services (bilingual and immersion) increased by 3.5 percent (four services). The number of children involved in these services increased by 7.5 percent (273) over the same period.

 

6. Staffing in teacher-led services

Teacher-led services include education and care services, casual-education and care services, kindergartens, homebased networks and the Correspondence School.S

 

6.1 Staff Qualifications

Note ‘Qualified’ means the teacher holds a qualification that leads to registration with the NZ Teachers Council.

• As at 1 July 2006, 57 percent (8,186) of usual³ teaching staff at teacher-led services were qualified (see Table 7). This is an increase of 9.6 percent (718) from July 2005.
• As at 1 July 2006, 50 percent (6,089) of usual teaching staff at education and care services (excluding casual-education and care) were qualified (see Table 7). This is an increase of 14.2 percent (756) from July 2005.

 

The following is Table 7, titled - Teaching staff (headcount) at teacher-led early childhood education services as at 1 July 2006, by service type and qualified status

Service Type	Qualified		Not Qualified
	Staff	Percent	Staff	Percent
Kindergarten	1,715	96	79	4
Casual-education and care	77	59	57	41
Education and care	6,089	50	6,027	50
Homebased network	283	99	4	1
Correspondence School	22	100
Total	8,186	57	6,167	43

 

6.2 NZ Teachers Council registration status

• At July 2006, 56 percent (8,091) of usual teaching staff at teacher-led services were registered (see Table 8). This is an increase of 13 percent (932) from July 2005.
• At July 2006, 50 percent (6,006) of usual teaching staff at education and care services were registered (see Table 8). This is an increase of 17.2 percent (878) from July 2005.

 

The following is Table 8, titled - Teaching staff (headcount) at teacher-led early childhood education services as at 1 July 2006, by service type and registration status

Service Type	Registered		Not Registered
	Staff	Percent	Staff	Percent
Kindergarten	1,715	96	79	4
Casual-education and care	75	55	59	45
Education and care	6,006	50	6,110	50
Homebased network	273	95	14	5
Correspondence School	22	100
Total	8,091	56	6,262	44

 

6.3 Staff in study

• At July 2006 24.2 percent (3,474) of teaching staff at teacher-led services were in study for an ECE qualification.
• Of the staff in study that do not currently hold a NZ Teachers Council-approved qualification (2,904), 97 percent were in study for a qualification that leads to NZ Teachers Council registration.

 

6.4 Staff in ethnicity

• As at 1 July 2006 there were 14,353 usual teaching staff at teacher led services. Of these, 74.9 percent (10,744) were European/Pākehā, 8.6 percent (1,229) were Pasifika, 8.2 percent (1,184) were Māori, 6.5 percent (931) were Asian and 1.8 percent (265) were of Other ethnicity.

 

7. Playcentre Educators and Parents

Playcentres require a minimum number of adults who have playcentre or other qualifications in order to meet their licensing requirements.

• At 1 July 2006 there were 7,425 adults on duty at Playcentres. This is an increase of 5.1 percent (306) since July 2005.
• Of the 7,425 adults on duty, 5,569 were recorded as holding a playcentre qualification, 1,528 as not holding a playcentre or ECE qualification and 328 were recorded as holding a non-playcentre ECE qualification.
• Of these, 749 were paid adults (659 held a playcentre qualification) and 6,676 were unpaid adults designated to be on duty.
• Of the 659 paid adults holding a playcentre qualification, 91.8 percent (605) were European/Pākehā, 4.7 percent (31) were Māori, two percent (13) were Asian, 0.9 percent (6) were Pasifika and 0.6 percent (4) were of Other ethnicity.
• At July 2006 there were 3,680 adults currently in study for ECE or playcentre qualifications.

 

8. Iwi Affiliation of Children

Services were asked to collect the Iwi affiliation from children who first enrolled at their service from January 2003. Note the following figures do not include children enrolled at kōhanga reo as Iwi data is not provided.

• At July 2005, the number of children for whom Iwi responses were provided increased to 21,634, with 21,058 being newly enrolled from January 2003. Of those who had enrolled since January 2003, the percentage providing a specific Iwi affiliation had increased to 67.2 percent (14,154), with the remaining 32.8 percent (6,904) not providing an Iwi⁴.
• At July 2006, the number of children for whom Iwi responses were provided increased to 22,426, with 22,241 being newly enrolled from January 2003. Of those who had enrolled since January 2003, the percentage providing a specific Iwi affiliation had increased to 69.1 percent (15,371), with the remaining 30.9 percent (6,870) not providing an Iwi. This indicates further improvement in the response rate and quality of data.

 

Footnotes

1. Note hours of attendance are not collected from kōhanga reo however it is assumed that children attending these services attend for 30 hours per week.
2. Kōhanga reo services are Māori immersion as they teach in Māori for 100 percent of teaching contact time.
3. Usual teaching staff means the people who would normally be teaching, therefore do not include day-to-day relievers etc. They exclude paid support staff and paid specialist staff.
4. Not providing an Iwi means their responses consisted of “Don’t know”, “Refused to answer”, “Response unidentifiable”, “Response outside scope” and “Not stated”.