ERO's new ECE review approach (a quick guide)

Who this applies to

Early learning centres, childcare centres, preschools, kindergartens, creches and Pacific early learning services that are reviewed directly by ERO.

Separate approaches are still being developed for Māori-medium, home-based, hospital-based services, and services under governing organisations.

What is changing, and when

From 1 September 2026, ERO is introducing a new review approach for standalone English-medium and Pacific-medium centre-based ECE services.

It replaces Ngā Ara Whai Hua: Quality Framework for Evaluation and Improvement, bringing quality and compliance together into one integrated review, guided by ERO's new Early Learning Framework for Improvement (ELFI).

Understanding ELFI (the Early Learning Framework for Improvement)

ELFI is a shared tool used by both services and ERO to reflect on practice and support consistent judgements. It is currently in draft.

It covers two domains and seven quality sub-domains, each rated across four levels:

• Levels: Improvement required, Meeting, Doing well, Excelling

• Domain 1 – Curriculum, Teaching and Learning: Children's progress; Engagement and belonging; Teaching practices (incl. literacy and maths); Curriculum and assessment; Equity and inclusion

• Domain 2 – Leadership, Governance and Management: Leadership; Service improvement

ERO's two-phase review

Phase one: Understanding your service

• A self-assessment using ELFI

• An onsite compliance check across five domains: curriculum, teaching and learning; leadership, governance and management; qualifications, ratios and service size; health and safety; premises and facilities.

Phase two: Quality or compliance focus

• "Compliance Pathway": if Phase One finds significant non-compliance or risk, ERO carries out a deeper compliance assessment.

• "Quality pathway": if no significant non-compliance is found, ERO evaluates quality above the regulatory standard, covering children's progress, engagement and belonging, teaching practice, curriculum and assessment, equity and inclusion, leadership, and service improvement.

New review reports

ERO will trial a new format for review reports that is clearer and easier for services and families to understand.

Reports will cover:

• How well the service meets regulatory requirements

• Quality of education and care

• Areas of strength

• Areas needing improvement and any required actions

• Opportunities for ongoing development

Reviews, licensing and enforcement

Review findings feed directly into ERO's regulatory decisions. Where non-compliance is found, ERO may take action (from follow-up monitoring through to formal enforcement).

If children are found to be at immediate risk, a review may be paused while the risk is addressed, with a stronger compliance focus applied and potential regulatory intervention if necessary.

Check ero.govt.nz for the latest updates.