What policies are required for ECE Services in NZ?

ECE services are required to have policies covering key areas such as:

• Health and safety (including hygiene and illness)
• Supervision and child protection
• Emergencies and hazards
• Complaints and communication with whānau

Under the updated 2026 licensing criteria, the focus is less on excessive documentation and more on ensuring systems are effective and understood by staff.

You can find up to date policies at https://eceinsights.co.nz/ece-licensing-criteria/

You can find home-based policies at https://eceinsights.co.nz/home-based/