Based on Early Learning Bulletin · Issue: 135, 3 July 2025 – Ministry of Education,
Winter illness: Absences and closure settings
As winter illnesses increase in our communities, we thought it was timely to remind you of the funding setting in the ECE Funding Handbook that will support you with child absences.
Funding can only be claimed for the absence of a permanently enrolled child if the situation falls within one of the following absence rules:
6-5 Three-week rule for continuous absence – Ministry of Education
6-7 The frequent absence rule – Ministry of Education
Permanently enrolled children with special needs or health problems may be exempt from the frequent absence rule or funded for continuous absences beyond the three-week period. This could include a child absent for more than three weeks due to a respiratory illness.
To access this exemption, an EC13 form needs to be completed by a medical practitioner. We are aware that in previous years we allowed a parent or guardian to complete this form but this year this will not be the case.
7-7 Absence rule exemptions – Ministry of Education
Emergency closure funding
A reminder that changes were made in 2024 to the emergency closure settings.
Emergency closure funding can be requested when services are unable to operate because they cannot meet minimum staffing requirements due to a high number of staff, or an educator, being unwell with an infectious disease.
7-5 Emergency closure – Ministry of Education
You will need to consider alternative options before emergency closure funding is approved, including reducing hours of operation or the number of children attending.
In a home-based service where an educator is not able to provide education and care due to an infectious illness, services can apply (using the EC30 HB form) to their local Te Mahau offices for emergency closure approval to use absence funding in these instances. If approved, then normal absence funding rules apply.
If your service is facing operating issues because staff or educators are unwell with an infectious disease, contact your local Te Mahau office:
Regional offices – Ministry of Education
You may need to provide evidence relating to staffing issues before emergency closure funding is approved. The type and level of
evidence required will depend on the context of the situation.
Frequent Absence Rule in Juniorlogs
https://helpguide.juniorlogs.co.nz/knowledgebase/far-overview-report/
