The leading voice in the ECE sector

The Early Childhood Council is the largest body for childcare centre owners and managers in the sector; representing more than 1,300 centres across New Zealand. We support and encourage the provision of quality education and care services.

Our purpose

The Early Childhood Council supports members with professional development, events, expert advice, tools and resources, discounted products and services, and advocates for the early learning sector.

Just like the sector, our membership is diverse and comprises of community-owned centres, private centres, and voluntary groups from a range of locations across the country.

Become a member today and be part of a community that is committed to improving the learning and development outcomes of children in New Zealand.

Become a member

5 Percent for Under 5s

The future of quality early childhood education is at risk. More centres are closing. More are having to increase prices for parents, at a time when many whānau are struggling already. We’re calling on the government to commit to a 5 percent cost adjustment in the 2026 budget. 

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Engage with the ECE Funding Review

We encourage you to make your voice heard and get involved with the ECE Funding Review. ECC members are invited to engage with and provide feedback to ECC's Steering Group.

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What Our Members Say About Us

“100% worth every cent, the support and information you can get from a membership with ECC is incredibly valuable”

Natasha

"The ECC is my go to first stop when I am faced with an unknown in ownership or challenge. My job would be so much harder without the support and resources provided through my ECC membership. Thanks a bunch!"

Alana

”I've been in the ECE industry for 10 years and an ECC member from the start. It's the best money I spend each year, and I recommend it to everyone. I don’t know what I’d do without ECC!”

Rhiannon

"ECC is very informative and have been my go to over the past 2-3 years, being new to management and having to learn everything from scratch with no hand over from previous manager! The tools, resources, PD, webinars and discussions have been very useful (and continue to be so)."

Tania

“We appreciate the hard work that has gone into developing policy templates and other tools that we can customise for use in our Aoga. We would recommend ECC membership for other Pacific ECE centres who would benefit from your services.”

Eirenei

"As a small centre owner and manager you cannot appreciate how wonderful it is to have definitive information about regulations and Government intiatives like those shared by ECC. Thank you for your amazing ongoing support and continued advocacy for our sector!"

Lynda

Events & Professional Development

The Early Childhood Council offers a range of online and in-person events for ECE professionals. These events cover professional development for all roles across the sector, informational webinars and networking opportunities to help you build connections.

Access all events through our platform partner ECE Learning Unlimited.

ECC Learning Centre

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News & Articles

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Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland Conference Report Back

July 2nd 2026The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) Queensland Conference was just held in Brisbane between 26 June and 28 June. It attracted 2,000 delegates and had a massive trade exhibition. I attendedRead more

The Child Who Wanted to Reach the Sun

June 25th 2026If you have ever had a conversation with a child before, you would know that their imagination and creativity are unmatched. As children are still learning the rules of the world around them, theyRead more

Work to residence changes a significant win for ECE teachers and providers

June 24th 2026The Early Childhood Council says allowing ECE teachers to qualify for residency at their original Median Wage level will help reduce the chance of a future teacher supply crisis for ECE providers,Read more

Choosing Culturally Responsive Resources for your Early Learning Services

June 22nd 2026The resources children encounter in an early learning environment help shape what they understand about themselves and the world around them. Books, images, language materials and digital content canRead more

What Happens When Food Reaches the Table

June 22nd 2026There is a point in every early learning setting where everything we say we value about food becomes visible. It does not sit in the menu, a policy, or a training session. It reveals itself at theRead more

Budget 2026: Government makes good on education promises with new investment into ECE

May 28th 2026The Early Childhood Council (ECC) has welcomed the Government’s 1.5 percent cost adjustment for early childhood education in Budget 2026 – but has warned tough times remain ahead for the ECERead more

How work-based learning can support early learning services

May 26th 2026Amid the plate-spinning of running an early learning service, workplace training can be the first thing to drop off the list. For centre owners and managers balancing staffing, compliance, whānauRead more

We Can Keep Safe: A Proven Personal Safety Programme for Early Learning

May 26th 2026Early learning services play a vital role in supporting the health, wellbeing, and safety of young children during their most formative years. Tamariki aged 3–5 are naturally trusting and dependentRead more

Where to find NZ video stories and songs to engage children

May 25th 2026A new resource for early childhood teachers, caregivers and whānau is providing a safe space online for pre-schoolers to engage with a range of stories and songs made in Aotearoa. KIDOGO Junior is tRead more

Five Ways to Keep Your Centre Healthier This Winter

May 5th 2026It’s every centre manager’s nightmare: another outbreak of illness. Sickness in early childhood education settings is incredibly common and the reasons are obvious: Young children have developingRead more

The Power of Supportive Storytelling in ECE

May 5th 2026Tamariki nod, recalling the physical effort, the slips, and the eventual triumph of making it across. What once felt impossible slowly became manageable, not because the equipment had changed, butRead more

Why ECEs need to take cyber risks seriously

April 8th 2026Digital tools now play a crucial role in the day to day running of early childhood centres. Enrolment systems, payroll, attendance tracking, parent communication apps, and stored records all relyRead more

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Interested in becoming a member?

Membership with the Early Childhood Council unlocks a range of benefits for your service and its staff. Join more than 1,300 member centres in New Zealand and become a member today.

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