Once your child turns three, the questions change. You are no longer only asking whether they will be safe and settled; you want to know whether they are learning enough, mixing with other children, and getting ready for school. Many parents assume that means moving to a kindergarten or a large centre. For lots of families, home-based child care is a strong option for these preschool years too. This guide explains what three and four-year-olds learn in home-based care, how it helps them get ready for school, and what to ask before you decide.
Is home-based child care a good fit for preschoolers?
What “preschool” means in New Zealand
New Zealand does not have one single type of preschool. Kindergartens, education and care centres, playcentres and licensed home-based services are all early childhood education, and licensed services work with Te Whāriki, the national early childhood curriculum. So the question is not whether home-based care counts as preschool learning, but whether the setting suits your child.
Small groups suit many three and four-year-olds
In home-based childcare in Auckland with Kia Ora Kids, an educator cares for no more than four children in their own home. For a preschooler, that small group means more one-to-one conversation, more time on the things they are curious about, and an adult who notices when they are ready for a new challenge. Children in a home-based group are often different ages, so an older child gets plenty of practice at helping, sharing and taking turns with younger ones.
Care that can continue from baby to school
Kia Ora Kids cares for children from birth up to six years old. If your child started with an educator as a baby or toddler, they can stay with the same person through their preschool years, which means no extra transition before the big move to school.
What three and four-year-olds learn in home-based care
An individual learning plan based on Te Whāriki
Each child has an individual learning programme built around their interests and abilities and based on Te Whāriki. Our visiting teachers work with your child’s educator to plan activities for the month ahead, and your child’s progress is recorded in a portfolio with photos and artwork. You can read more about what a visiting teacher does and how the early childhood curriculum works.
Early literacy and maths through everyday play
Preschool learning at home looks a lot like play, and that is the point. Baking involves counting, measuring and following steps. Puzzles and block building develop problem solving and an early sense of shape and number. Songs, rhymes and stories at mat time build vocabulary and listening. Playdough, painting and drawing strengthen the small hand muscles children will later use to hold a pencil. Children also learn some te reo Māori along the way.
Social skills in a small group, plus playgroups and outings
Social confidence matters as much as letters and numbers. In a small group, children practise sharing, waiting their turn and sorting out disagreements with an adult close by. Kia Ora Kids children also take part in regular playgroups, where they mix with a larger group of children, and go on educational outings to places such as the Auckland Museum and Auckland Zoo at no extra cost. For more on this, see the social skills children learn in early childhood.
Getting ready for school
When children start school in New Zealand
Most children in New Zealand start school around their fifth birthday, and every child must be enrolled by the time they turn six. Some schools take new entrants in groups at the start of a term rather than on each child’s birthday, so check with your local school early. The Ministry of Education has a guide to starting school.
The skills that help most on the first day
New entrant teachers are usually less worried about whether a child can read than about whether they can manage the day. The skills that help most are practical ones:
- going to the toilet and washing their hands on their own
- opening a lunchbox and drink bottle, and putting on shoes and a jacket
- following a simple routine and two-step instructions
- sitting with a group to listen to a story or join in a song
- asking an adult for help and telling someone how they feel
- taking turns and joining in play with other children
These are exactly the things a home-based educator can practise with your child every day, in a calm setting, at a pace that suits them.
How your educator can help with the move to school
In your child’s last months before school, talk with your educator about the routines and skills you want to focus on. Their portfolio is a useful record of your child’s interests and strengths to share with your child’s new teacher. Many families also visit the new school together a few times before the first day.
Home-based care, kindergarten or both?
Some families keep their child in home-based care right up to school. Others add a few kindergarten sessions in the final year so their child gets used to a bigger group. Both can work. If you are weighing up the two, our guide to kindergarten and home-based childcare in Auckland compares them side by side. If you do combine services, 20 Hours ECE can be split between them, within the limits explained below.
How 20 Hours ECE works for preschoolers in home-based care
Children aged three, four and five are eligible for 20 Hours ECE, which covers up to 20 hours of early childhood education a week and up to six hours a day. It applies to home-based care as long as the educator is part of a licensed home-based service, and the hours can be split across two services as long as the total stays within those limits. Kia Ora Kids offers 20 Hours ECE for children aged three and over. Home-based educators may also ask for a top-up payment for hours outside the funded hours. For how this fits with other support, see our childcare subsidy guide, how home-based daycare hours work and the Ministry of Education’s 20 Hours ECE page.
Questions to ask before enrolling your preschooler
- How will my child’s learning plan change now that they are three or four?
- What does a typical week look like, including playgroups and outings?
- How many children are in the group, and what ages are they?
- How will you help my child get ready for school, and what will I be able to share with their new teacher?
- Can care fit around kindergarten sessions if we choose to combine them?
- How do 20 Hours ECE and any top-up payment apply to the hours I am booking?
For a full checklist covering safety, licensing and communication, see what to look for in a home-based childcare provider.
Preschool learning at home with Kia Ora Kids
Kia Ora Kids has educators across Auckland, each supported by qualified visiting teachers who plan your child’s learning around Te Whāriki. If you would like your preschooler to learn in a small, familiar group and arrive at school confident, meet our educators or send us an enquiry to find a match near you.
Frequently asked questions
Is home-based child care suitable for four-year-olds?
Yes. Licensed home-based care is early childhood education, and learning follows Te Whāriki, the same national curriculum used by kindergartens and centres. Many children stay with their home-based educator until they start school.
Will my child be ready for school if they do not go to kindergarten?
School readiness is mostly about independence, routines, communication and getting along with others, and these can all be built in a small home-based group. Regular playgroups and outings also give children experience of larger groups before school.
Can I use 20 Hours ECE for home-based care?
Yes, for children aged three to five, as long as the educator is part of a licensed home-based service. Current rules are on the Ministry of Education website.
Can my child go to kindergarten and home-based care at the same time?
Yes, many families combine the two. 20 Hours ECE can be split between two services, as long as the total stays within 20 hours a week and six hours a day.