Qualification Overview

Qualification Title New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4)
Qualification Type Certificate
Level 4
Credits 60
Subject Area
  • Society and Culture » Human Welfare Studies and Services » Nannying and Early Childhood Care
Strategic Purpose Statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide Aotearoa New Zealand with people who can provide practice-based education and care in a specific early childhood context. This is the minimum qualification requirement for licensed home-based educators, and further details can be accessed from the Ministry of Education at: www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/funding-and-data/transition-to-a-qualified-home-based-workforce/#sh-home-based%20qualification

This qualification is intended for people who intend to work as early childhood educators, particularly in the home-based sector, or proceed to further study. Graduates will enhance family, whānau and community outcomes and will support mokopuna - infants, toddlers and young children.

Graduates will be able to operate independently and self-manage, taking some responsibility for the performance of others. The early childhood education (ECE) setting and associated regulatory framework and criteria will determine the level of supervision under which graduates will operate when employed. For example, home-based regular sole charge practitioners would be under general supervision, while parent-led session leaders would provide guidance and supervision of others.
Graduate profile
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

- Guide the holistic development and learning of children through the application of key early childhood theories and approaches.
- Promote children's learning through observing, planning, implementing and reviewing culturally responsive learning experiences (including play-based experiences) for mokopuna - infants, toddlers, and young children, using knowledge of the child in the context of their whanau, Te Whāriki and supporting documents.
- Provide an environment guided by community and government services, legislation and regulatory requirements, to protect and support the holistic well-being, safety, health, nutrition and care of infants, toddlers, young children/ mokopuna and their whānau/ families.
- Communicate effectively and use strategies to promote cultural, social and emotional competencies, and engage in respectful, reciprocal, and responsive relationships within an early childhood education and care community.
- Reflect on personal and professional development, and implement strategies that manage own health, wellbeing (including resilience) and professionalism in an early childhood setting.
- Implement culturally responsive and inclusive ECE practice underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi, Ka Hikitia and Tau Mai Te Reo, through the use of te reo and tikanga Māori with mokopuna/children and whanau/families in early childhood settings.
- Apply knowledge of the diverse philosophical and cultural contexts and approaches informing early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand to develop a personal philosophy of practice.
Education pathways
This qualification provides an education pathway from the New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Introductory Skills) (Level 3) [Ref: 2849].

This qualification leads to the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) [Ref: 2851] and may enable graduates to commence an initial teacher education (ECE) qualification under specified criteria.

Graduates with Level 3 proficiency in te reo Māori may go on to study Te Tipuranga o te Mokopuna (Kaupae 5) [Ref: 2857] - New Zealand Diploma in a Maori World View of Early Learning (Level 5).
Employment pathways
Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge to work in a range of ECE settings as ECE educators, Kaimahi, ECE support workers, pou reo (language/cultural support workers), relievers, session leaders or organisers in a specific ECE context, such as parent-led services or playgroups including Pasifika and Māori.

Graduates may be involved as a home-based educator in sole charge under specific supervision; as kaiāwhina to provide support for preparing and implementing activities; in paid or unpaid roles. They may also be involved in voluntary roles in early childhood settings.To find out more about employment opportunities click on the CareersNZ logo, then the provider who offers this qualification.
Entry Requirements
Regulatory
This is the minimum qualification requirement for licensed home-based educators, and the person responsible in Playcentres.

Programmes leading to this qualification must reflect quality practice and maintain currency with amendments to, and replacements of, relevant legislation, regulations, Australia/New Zealand standards (AS/NZS), and security responsibilities including cyber safety (particularly related to young children).

- Current legislation and regulations can be accessed at www.legislation.govt.nz

- Current AS/NZS standards can be accessed at www.standards.co.nz

- Current regulatory framework and licensing criteria for ECE can be accessed from the Ministry of Education at www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/

- Information on the Children's Act 2014, safety checking regulations and guidelines can be accessed from www.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-children/childrens-act-requirements/.

Completion of a comprehensive First Aid course is recommended, as it may be a requirement for licensing for some types of ECE service e.g. home-based.

Relevant supporting resources:
- Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020-2030 available at www.education.govt.nz/our-work/overall-strategies-and-policies/action-plan-for-pacific-education-2020-2030/
- Early Learning Action Plan (ELAP)
- Ka Hikitia and Tau Mai Te Reo
- Kei Tua o te Pae - Assessment for learning - Early Childhood- available at www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/teaching-and-learning/assessment-for-learning/kei-tua-o-te-pae-2/
- Tapasā - Cultural competencies framework for teachers of Pacific learners- available at https://teachingcouncil.nz/resource-centre/tapasa/
- Tātaiako - Cultural competencies framework for teachers of Māori learners- available at https://teachingcouncil.nz/resource-centre/tataiako-cultural-competencies-for-teachers-of-maori-learners/
- Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) - Te Whāriki online resources, which can be accessed at tewhariki.tki.org.nz/ including He Māpuna te Tamaiti - supporting Social and Emotional Competence in Early Learning;
Talking together, Te kōrerorero
- Te Whare Tapa Whā - available at www.health.govt.nz/our-work/populations/maori-health/maori-health-models/maori-health-models-te-whare-tapa-wha
- Te whatu pōkeka - available at www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/teaching-and-learning/assessment-for-learning/te-whatu-pokeka-english/
- Teaching Council Our Code Our Standards- available at https://teachingcouncil.nz/professional-practice/our-code-our-standards/
- The New Zealand Curriculum- available at https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/The-New-Zealand-Curriculum
Education Organisation 19 Organisations can assist in gaining this qualification
Developed By Toitu te Waiora Community, Health, Education and Social Services Workforce Development Council
Quality Assured By New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Number 2850
Status Current
Created February 2016
Next Review April 2026
Content View full qualification details

Qualification Title

The qualification title names the overall focus of the qualification.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Te Reo Maori Title

Listed under Te Reo Maori title with English equivalent.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Matauranga Maori Qualification

A qualification quality assured and approved through the Te Hono o Te Kahurangi quality assurance approach.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Qualification Type

There are different types of qualifications including certificate, diploma, degree and post-graduate certificates and diplomas. Qualification types relate to NZQF levels.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Level

The NZQF has ten levels. Level one is least complex and is often entry-level, for example foundation certificates. Levels eight to ten are the most complex, and include post-graduate study.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Credits

The credit value relates to the size of the qualification. One credit equates to ten hours of learning. One year's full-time study at a provider is usually 120 credits, but if you are studying part-time or in the work place the credit value may vary.

+Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Subject Area

All qualifications are grouped into subject areas on the New Zealand Standard Classification of Education (NZSCED). The subject area is a keyword and can be used when searching for qualifications in an area of interest.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Strategic Purpose Statement

Strategic purpose statement explains the reason why the qualification has been developed. It identifies the target learners and for what roles the qualification prepares them.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Graduate profile

The Graduate profile explains the skills, knowledge and attributes a graduate will have attained on achieving the qualification. It describes what they can know and do and be.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Education pathways

Education pathways include other qualifications you can enrol into after completing this qualification.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Employment pathways

Employment pathways include the kinds of careers you can develop with this qualification.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Next Review

This is the date the qualification will expire and be reviewed or discontinued.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Last Date For Entry

The last date a learner can be enrolled in a programme leading to this qualification.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Entry Requirements

The level of education or training you need to have achieved before an education organisation will consider enrolling you for it or arranging the training. Each organisation may also have entry requirements for the programmes they run.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Education Organisation

This is the organisation that can help you achieve the qualification.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Developed By

Qualifications are developed by education organisations. These include standard setting bodies, like industry training organisations, and tertiary providers, such as universities, polytechnics and private training establishments.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Quality Assured By

All qualifications on the NZQF have been checked by the quality assurance bodies of NZQA, ITP Quality or NZVCC to ensure qualifications have meaningful outcomes.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Number

All qualifications have a unique number.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Status

The status shows if a qualification is current, expiring or discontinued. Only current qualifications have programmes at education organisations that are open to new enrolments.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Created

This is the date the qualification was listed on the NZQF.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Last Reviewed

Last date the qualification was formally reviewed.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Content

Information on how a qualification is structured.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]

Discontinued

This is the date the qualification was discontinued and no longer available.

Click anywhere in this window to close it, or press [Esc]