📚 What Would 20 Hours ECE From Age 2 Mean for Families?

Exploring the potential benefits for affordability, access, attendance and the workforce

Kia ora e te whānau,

Welcome back to The Inside Scoop, where we break down current topics shaping early childhood education in Aotearoa and what they mean for our Horizons Montessori community.

This week, we’re looking at a topic gaining strong national attention:the proposal for 20 Hours ECE funding to begin at age 2.

Currently, 20 Hours ECE funding begins at age 3, and while this support helps many families, it still leaves a substantial cost gap for the years before that. Many countries recognise the importance of early learning from age 2 — both for children’s development and for supporting whānau — which has prompted discussion here in New Zealand about bringing the support earlier.

🌱 Why Age 2 Matters

Research shows that the first 1,000 days of life are among the most critical for brain development. By age 2, children are rapidly developing language, social skills, emotional regulation, and identity-building. Access to high-quality early learning environments can have a powerful long-term impact.

Introducing 20 hours from age 2 would:

• Improve access for families otherwise unable to afford early learning

• Support children’s early development during a foundational stage

• Reduce inequities between whānau with different financial circumstances

• Improve attendance patterns and continuity of learning

Giving more children a strong foundation benefits society long-term — academically, socially, and economically.

👨‍👩‍👧 What It Would Mean for Families

Extending 20 hours to age 2 would:

💸 Reduce cost barriers

Many families struggle significantly with childcare costs before age 3. This change would relieve financial pressure at a time many households face reduced income while raising young children.

🧠 Support development earlier

More children could access high-quality early learning instead of waiting until age 3 to enrol or attend consistently.

💼 Support workforce participation

Parents — particularly mothers — would have more flexibility to return to work, study or training, strengthening family wellbeing and financial stability.

🤝 Build smoother learning transitions

More consistent attendance supports secure relationships, confidence, and emotional stability — key ingredients for strong starts at school.

📍 What It Would Require From Government

For 20 hours from age 2 to be successful and sustainable, it must be properly funded. Otherwise centres will face increased pressure without the resources needed to support quality learning.

This means:

• Funding that matches real operating costs

• Pay parity for qualified teachers

• Support for inclusion and learning needs

• Ratios that protect wellbeing

• Stability for community-based centres like ours

Quality cannot be achieved on underfunded foundations — so advocating for funding reform is essential.

🗳 What We Are Advocating For

At the recent Ministerial Advisory Group hui in Christchurch, I advocated for:

• 20 Hours ECE from age 2

• Fair funding to ensure centres can deliver high-quality education

• Affordability for families

• Better support for diverse learning needs

• Stronger ratios and pay parity for teachers

This proposal would not just help families — it would strengthen outcomes for tamariki nationwide.

❤️ What We Believe

Children deserve:

✨ Access to high-quality education from the start

✨ Teachers who are valued and supported

✨ Calm, well-resourced environments where they can thrive

✨ A system that removes barriers, not creates them

We will continue to advocate for real change, and we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.