5 July 2005
More funding for new ECE centres
Education Minister Trevor Mallard today announced that community groups will be able to apply for funding to create new
early childhood education (ECE) centres across the country through a second round of the Discretionary Grant Scheme.
"Today's announcement underpins this government’s goal of making sure more children have the opportunity to participate
in early childhood education," Trevor Mallard said.
"I am pleased that more centres will be supported through the second round of funding announced today. This is on top of
the funding already granted in the first round, which I will be announcing soon.
"This year's budget added an extra $28.4 million into this area over the next four years. The additional funding will
help ensure access to early childhood services is still reasonable in 2007, when three and four year old children
attending community-based services will be able to access 20 hours per week of free early childhood education.
"We know that quality early childhood education makes a positive difference to the learning outcomes for children.
Research shows that the greatest benefits are for children who traditionally have been less likely to access early
childhood education, including children from poorer homes or living in rural communities.
"The Discretionary Grant Scheme is targeted towards these groups. The funding announced today takes the annual spend on
Discretionary Grants to $18.59 million in 2005/06."
Each year the Discretionary Grants Scheme provides annual capital assistance to community based services to establish
new centres and to address health or safety concerns in existing services.
Information and application forms for the second Discretionary Grant Scheme round will be sent out to services and made
available on the Ministry of Education's website from 25 July 2005. Applications will close on Friday 14 October and it
is expected that decisions will be announced in early February 2006. Services will be able to apply for 2006 funding in
February 2006.
ENDS