Home-based vs centre-based ECE — choosing the right model

NZ's two largest ECE delivery models look the same from a regulatory angle — both licensed, both eligible for 20 Hours ECE, both ERO-reviewed — but the day-to-day experience differs sharply. Home-based ECE places your child with a single educator in a home environment (often the educator's home, sometimes yours). Centre-based education & care groups children in a licensed purpose-built setting with rotating staff. Here's how to decide.

The headline differences

	Home-based	Centre-based
Ratio	1:4 (max 2 under-2s)	1:5 under-2, 1:10 over-2
Setting	Educator's home (typically)	Purpose-built licensed centre
Continuity of carer	Same educator daily	Multiple staff rotate
Cost (under-2)	Often modestly lower	Higher base fees
20 Hours ECE	Available at opted-in services	Available at opted-in centres
Hours flexibility	High — small group, often more flexible	Fixed by centre operating hours
Peer interaction	Small group (3-4 children)	Larger peer cohort

When home-based works best

You have a child under 2 and want a 1:4 ratio with one consistent carer.
Your work hours don't align with standard 7:30am-5:30pm centre hours.
You prefer a domestic environment over an institutional one.
Your child finds large groups overwhelming.
You want a single relationship rather than 5-10 rotating staff.

When centre-based works best

You want your child exposed to a larger peer group and structured curriculum.
You need wraparound care through holidays and educator sickness (centre staff cover each other).
You're prioritising the social transition to school.
You want a purpose-built indoor/outdoor environment.
You want visibility into multiple educators' observations rather than one.

How home-based is regulated

Home-based services are MoE-licensed under the same Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 as centres. The licensee is the home-based service (e.g. PORSE, Edukids Home-Based, Nurtured at Home, BarnardosKidstart), which employs or contracts the in-home educators. Educators are visited regularly by a qualified Coordinator from the licensee, who also coordinates planning, programme, and quality assurance.

Top 20 suburbs with the highest home-based ECE density

Computed from 4,375 licensed ECE services in the MoE directory. Updated on every deploy.

Rosedale — 12 home-based services · 80% of suburb licensed offer
Chartwell — 12 home-based services · 57% of suburb licensed offer
Hastings Central — 11 home-based services · 73% of suburb licensed offer
Tauranga Central — 9 home-based services · 75% of suburb licensed offer
Mangere East — 8 home-based services · 26% of suburb licensed offer
Otara — 7 home-based services · 17% of suburb licensed offer
East Tamaki — 7 home-based services · 50% of suburb licensed offer
Albany — 6 home-based services · 22% of suburb licensed offer
Mangere — 6 home-based services · 14% of suburb licensed offer
Otahuhu — 4 home-based services · 20% of suburb licensed offer
Browns Bay — 4 home-based services · 29% of suburb licensed offer
Papamoa — 4 home-based services · 15% of suburb licensed offer
Flat Bush — 4 home-based services · 20% of suburb licensed offer
Waimairi Beach — 4 home-based services · 100% of suburb licensed offer
Papakura — 4 home-based services · 25% of suburb licensed offer
Henderson — 3 home-based services · 6% of suburb licensed offer
Ellerslie — 3 home-based services · 18% of suburb licensed offer
Royal Oak — 3 home-based services · 38% of suburb licensed offer
Kaitāia West — 3 home-based services · 25% of suburb licensed offer
Manukau — 3 home-based services · 33% of suburb licensed offer

Or filter the directory directly: All home-based services · All education & care centres · Full home-based vs centre guide

Frequently asked questions

Can home-based educators care for my child in MY home? +

Yes, this is one of the two main home-based models — the educator comes to your home. It's more common in some regions than others; ask the licensee about availability.

Is home-based cheaper than centre-based? +

Slightly, on average — national median weekly cost for under-2s is ~$320 (home-based) vs ~$360 (centre-based) per the data on /guides/home-based-vs-centre-based. Differences narrow at the 3-5 age band where 20 Hours ECE applies to both.

What happens if my home-based educator is sick? +

The licensee organises cover, but home-based services are inherently less resilient to staff sickness than centres. Ask about the licensee's relief policy at enrolment.

Does ERO review home-based services? +

Yes — ERO reviews the licensee, who is responsible for the quality across all educators they coordinate. Individual educators are not reviewed separately.

Can I choose my home-based educator? +

Yes. After contacting the licensee, you're matched with available educators in your area and can interview them before committing. Compatibility and convenience both matter — this is a long-term relationship.