KEY POINTS:
The Government has announced how $10 million will be allocated to fund early childhood education (ECE) providers to expand or build new services.
Education Minister Steve Maharey said the latest round of grants would cater for increasing demand in the Auckland area.
"The grants will support the further roll out of 20 Hours Free ECE, which started at teacher-led centres this week," Mr Maharey said.
He said more than 65,000 three and four year olds were accessing the policy from day one, representing 70 per cent of eligible children.
"The Discretionary Grant, worth $9.6 million, is being allocated to 16 providers looking to either build new or extend their ECE centres, to increase participation particularly for children from low socio-economic and isolated communities."
The $9.6 million is the first round of an annual $16.2 million Discretionary Grant Scheme.
Mr Maharey also announced more than $235,000 in Establishment Grants, to help 14 other new ECE services get the resources they need to operate a centre, for example a licence, extra staff or equipment.
The Establishment grant is a quarterly allocation, out of an annual total of $1.2 million.
Discretionary Grants:
Planning Grants -- Total $115,000
*Helemata Aoga Niue Charitable Trust, Auckland, $15,000 -- establish new Niue Immersion service in Central Auckland;
*Manukau Christian Charitable Trust, Auckland, $25,000 -- establish new service for 50 children in Flat Bush;
*Okaihau Kohanga Reo, Northland, $25,000 -- relocation of service;
*Opunake Communities Kindergarten, Taranaki/King Country, $25,000 -- relocation of existing service;
*Y Kids, Nelson, $25,000 -- new service.
Capital Grants -- Total $8,749,947 providing 385 new (and 112 retained) licensed places
*Te Rangi Aniwaniwa Kohanga Reo, Northland, $786,284 -- retention of and expansion of existing service, creating 10 new (and 30 retained) licensed places;
*Child Life Centre, Auckland, $1,951,339 -- new service, creating 100 new licensed places;
*Living and Learning Foundation, Mangere, Auckland, $1,569,251 -- new service, creating 113 new licensed places;
*Nukutukulea Aoga Niue, Auckland, $998,363 -- retention and expansion of existing service, creating 20 new (and 30 retained) licensed places
*Ko te Kura Hononga, Auckland, $468,747 -- new service, creating 25 new licensed places;
*Leataata O Tupulaga O La Pasefika, Auckland, $458,292 -- expansion of existing service, 20 new licensed places;
*YMCA Kaiti Early Learning Centre, Gisborne, $896,491 -- new service in Gisborne, creating 50 new licensed places;
*Pongaroa Early Years, Wairarapa, $206,168 -- new service in remote rural area, creating 22 new licensed places;
*Wai-o-turi Kohanga Reo, Wanganui, $678,781 -- retention and expansion of existing service, creating 10 new (and 20 retained) licensed places;
*Kaikoura Early Learning Centre, Kaikoura, $756,191 -- retention and expansion of existing service, creating 12 new (and 32 retained) licensed places;
*Westport Early Learning Centre, Westport, $60,000 -- relocation of service and expansion, creating 3 new licensed places.
Establishment Grants -- Total $235,084:
*Panmure Bridge Childcare Centre, Auckland, $30,000;
*Papatoetoe Footsteps Community Pre-School, Auckland, $29,587;
*Pukekohe High School Childcare Centre, Auckland, $7000;
*Te Huinga Reo Kohanga Reo, Auckland, $20,000;
*Te Kupenga Kohanga Reo, Auckland, $8000;
*Te Whare Whai Hua, Gisborne, $20,000;
*Tauparanui Ki Heretaunga Te Kohanga Reo, Hastings, $ 12,000;
*Te Kohanga Reo o Te Ara Hou, Napier, $10,000;
*Te Wairoa Kohanga Reo, Tauranga, $29,037;
*Sunny Days Early Childhood Education and Care Centre, Napier, $10,000;
*Matawera Kohanga Reo, Rotorua, $30,000;
*Te Kohanga Reo o Mana Tamariki, Palmerston North, $16,000;
*Positively Poneke Kids Incorporated, Wellington, $5000;
*Waipuna Early Childhood Centre, Christchurch, $8190
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