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. 

More information

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.

More information

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

View item

News & Articles

View all articles

The Best of Both Worlds: How mixed-aged, family care works at Tōtara Kids ELC

September 2nd 2026Tōtara Kids in Stoke, Nelson, is a centre licensed for 29 children aged six months to six years. Our space is an old bungalow, decorated with vintage furniture and family dining tables, lowered soRead more

Living the Story: What Happens When Storytelling Becomes the Heart of Pedagogy?

September 2nd 2026By Del Costello Director of Coactive EducationRead more

It's You Both vs Emotions: 5 Mistakes Adults Make During Toddler Tantrums

August 24th 2026Toddlers are known for their tantrums. Parents often talk about the challenges of the "terrible twos," "frightful fours," and "sassy sixes." This topic is widely discussed, yet most parents are stillRead more

Dance, Culture and Spirituality: Creating Meaningful Movement in ECE

August 7th 2026Teachers need to create a space that is inclusive of children’s ways of participating in dance, based on their cultural and spiritual context. Different cultures and spiritual influences haveRead more

Indoor Air Quality in ECE: The Hidden Factor Affecting Health, Learning and Wellbeing

July 23rd 2026When Early Childhood Education (ECE) providers think about creating healthy learning environments, attention often focuses on nutrition, hygiene, outdoor play and infection prevention. However, oneRead more

Why Mud Might Be Your Most Valuable Outdoor Learning Resource

July 23rd 2026There is a well-known phrase in early childhood education: children learn through play. But there is one type of play that still makes some adults hesitate: muddy play. Most kaiako instinctively knowRead more

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

Stay up to date

Keep up with the latest news, events and updates from the Early Childhood Council by signing up to our mailing list.

You can change your preferences or unsubscribe at any time.

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.

Find out more