Description

Anyone constructing, altering or approving the construction of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECE) centres needs to ensure they meet the requirements of both the Building Act 2004 and the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.

Scope

ECE Centres operate within a regulatory framework of minimum requirements for supervision, premises and facilities and health and safety (among other things).

MBIE have worked with the Ministry of Education to assist centres through the building consent process during construction and alteration. MBIE specifically looked at:

• access for people with disabilities while maintaining the safety of children
• adequate privacy for children using the toilets
• upgrading requirements when an early childhood centre is altered or a building undergoes a change of use, such as when a house is converted into an ECE centre.