Discounted Fees For Childcare In Auckland
Did you know that your child is entitled to 20 hours of government-funded early childhood education from the age of 3?
Most registered centres offering childcare in Auckland- including our popular preschool Pukekohe and preschool Botany centres – automatically provide this funding. However, there are a few important conditions you need to understand to make the most of it.
How It Works: Early Learning Childcare Centres
When your child turns 3, your chosen childcare provider will ask you to complete a funding attestation form. This confirms you’re receiving the 20 hours through that centre and whether your child is enrolled elsewhere. While your child can attend more than one centre, you can only claim the 20 free hours at one registered preschool or childcare service.
Ministry of Education Attendance Rules
To continue receiving the full 20 hours of funding, your child must meet certain attendance requirements set by the Ministry of Education. If any of the following conditions are not met, the childcare centre may lose funding and may need to pass this cost on to you:
Your child is absent on the same enrolled day(s) more than half the time in a calendar month.
They attend fewer days than they are enrolled for.
They attend less than 6 hours per day for more than half of their enrolled days.
They are continuously absent for more than 3 weeks.
These patterns will appear on the centre’s “frequent absence” report.
What Happens If These Rules Are Broken?
The Ministry provides a 4-month window to correct attendance issues:
Month 1: Your childcare centre will contact you if the absence pattern is expected to continue.
Month 2: You’ll be asked to sign a reconfirmation attestation to confirm your child’s attendance schedule.
Month 3: You may need to update your child’s enrolment details.
Month 4: If the pattern hasn’t been corrected, funding stops. Your childcare centre may then charge you to recover the lost funding until your child resumes regular attendance (at least 6 hours per day on enrolled days).
Exemptions For Illness At Childcare Centres
If your child is sick and unable to attend their preschool or childcare centre, they may still retain funding by completing the appropriate exemption form:
EC12 – completed by parents/caregivers
EC13 – completed by a medical professional
Your childcare provider can advise you on which form to use based on the situation.
Daily Funding Limits
Although your child is eligible for 20 funded hours per week, the maximum claimable per day is 6 hours. You can structure your child’s attendance as:
6 hours per day for 3–4 days, or
4 hours per day for 5 days (typically morning or afternoon sessions)
If your child is enrolled in a 4-hour session, it’s essential they attend the full 4 hours daily. Regularly arriving late or leaving early can also trigger a frequent absence report.
Final Tip
Every centre – whether you’re considering preschool Pukekohe, preschool Botany, or a centre offering childcare in Auckland – may have their own additional policies on top of Ministry guidelines. Be sure to ask the right questions, read the fine print, and use our free checklist to help choose the early learning centre that’s right for your child and family.
Your Questions Answered
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📝 What do I need to enrol my child?
- Enrolment Form
- Terms of Trade
- Copy of your child’s immunisation record
- Copy of your child’s identification document (just to be sighted)
- Get to Know Me Form
- One Week’s Fees In Advance
- Enrolment Fee
Download our information and enrolment pack here.
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💰 What are your fees, and do you offer any subsidies?
Yes, we do accept WINZ subsidies and we help our parents with their FamilyBoost submissions.
View our fees below:
Botany Junction
Botany Town Centre
Pukekohe
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🧮 Do you offer 20 ECE hours?
Yes. As soon as your child turns 3 years old, they will automatically receive 20 hours funding from the government. This is already reflected in our fee structure.
