20 Hours ECE Explained: A Plain-English Guide for Parents
Updated 8 November 2026 · 6 min read · By the Lilchamps team
If you have a three, four or five year old, the New Zealand Government will fund up to 20 hours of early childhood education a week. It is one of the most valuable supports available to families, and one of the most misunderstood. Here is how it works, in plain English — including the questions parents ask us most.
What is 20 Hours ECE?
20 Hours ECE is a Ministry of Education subsidy that funds up to 20 hours of early childhood education per week — up to six hours per day — for children aged three to five who have not yet started school.
The funding is paid directly to the centre, not to you. When you enrol, you complete a short attestation form nominating which hours you want funded, and the fee reduction is applied to your invoice automatically.
Who qualifies?
Every child in New Zealand aged three to five who is enrolled at a participating early childhood service qualifies. It is not means-tested — your income and work situation do not affect eligibility.
The funding starts from the day your child turns three, so it is worth talking to your centre a few weeks before that birthday to have the paperwork ready.
Is there 20 Hours ECE for two year olds?
No. 20 Hours ECE begins at age three. This is the question we are asked most often, usually because families have read about proposed changes that were announced and later did not go ahead.
That does not mean there is no help before your child turns three. Depending on your situation you may be able to claim the FamilyBoost childcare rebate through Inland Revenue, or the Childcare Subsidy through Work and Income, and both can apply to children under three. The rules and amounts for these change from time to time, so check the current details on ird.govt.nz and workandincome.govt.nz, or ask our centre manager and we will point you to the right one.
Is it 15 hours or 20 hours?
In New Zealand it is 20 hours a week. The 15-hour figure parents sometimes come across belongs to the scheme in the United Kingdom, so it is worth being certain which country a page is describing before relying on it.
What it does and does not cover
The 20 funded hours cover the core education and care your child receives during the nominated hours. Centres may have optional charges for extras, and hours beyond the funded 20 are charged at the centre’s normal rates. Every centre structures this slightly differently, so ask for a written fee schedule showing exactly what your weekly cost looks like with the subsidy applied.
You can also split the 20 hours across more than one service — for example, a few days at a centre and a session at kindergarten — as long as the total funded hours do not exceed 20 per week.
Using 20 Hours ECE at Lilchamps
All Lilchamps centres across Auckland and Wellington offer 20 Hours ECE for eligible three and four year olds. When you enquire, our centre managers will walk you through the attestation form and show you precisely how the subsidy changes your weekly fee — before you commit to anything.
For the official details, see the Ministry of Education’s guidance on 20 Hours ECE, or simply ask at your nearest Lilchamps centre and we will explain how it applies to your family’s hours.
Common questions
How does 20 Hours ECE work?
The New Zealand Government funds up to 20 hours a week of early childhood education for children aged three to five, up to a maximum of six hours in any one day. The money is paid directly to your centre rather than to you. When you enrol, you fill in a short attestation form nominating which hours you want funded, and the reduction is applied to your invoice automatically.
Who is eligible for 20 Hours ECE in New Zealand?
Any child aged three, four or five who has not yet started school and attends a participating early childhood service. It is not means-tested, so your income, your work situation and your residency category do not affect eligibility.
Is 20 Hours ECE free for 2 year olds?
No. 20 Hours ECE starts from a child’s third birthday, so two year olds are not eligible. Families with younger children may instead be able to use the FamilyBoost rebate through Inland Revenue or the Childcare Subsidy through Work and Income. The amounts and rules for those change from time to time, so check ird.govt.nz or workandincome.govt.nz for current details.
When does 20 Hours ECE start — the birthday or the term?
From the day your child turns three, not the start of a term. Speak to your centre a few weeks beforehand so the attestation form is signed and ready, and the funding applies from the birthday itself.
Is 20 Hours ECE completely free?
The 20 funded hours cover the education and care your child receives during the hours you nominate. Centres may have optional charges for extras, and any hours beyond the funded 20 are charged at the centre’s normal rate. Always ask for a written fee schedule showing your actual weekly cost with the subsidy applied.
Can I split the 20 hours between two centres?
Yes. You can use the hours across more than one service — for example three days at a centre and a session at kindergarten — as long as the total funded hours do not go over 20 in a week and no more than six in a day. You nominate the split on the attestation form at each service.
How do I apply for 20 Hours ECE?
There is no application to the Government and no form to send away. You complete an attestation form at your early childhood centre when you enrol, or when your child turns three if they are already attending. The centre claims the funding on your behalf.
Do Lilchamps centres offer 20 Hours ECE?
Yes. All Lilchamps centres across Auckland and Wellington offer 20 Hours ECE for eligible three, four and five year olds. Our centre managers will walk you through the attestation form and show you exactly what your weekly fee looks like with the subsidy applied before you commit to anything.
Come and See a Centre for Yourself
Family-owned centres across Auckland and Wellington, with 20 Hours ECE available. Visits are always welcome.