9 November 2020
Beth H
[FYI request #13995 email]
7ƝQƗNRH Beth
Thank you for your email of 16 October 2020 to the Ministry of Education requesting the
following information:
I request information held about Early Childhood Centres, that are claiming the funding and
attesting to paying their teachers minimum rates which are currently:
Q1$41,067$45,491$49,862
Q2$41,067$45,491$49,862
Q3$45,041$45,491$49,862
Q3+$46,368$46,832$49,862
I suspect that many teachers are unaware of whether their centre is claiming the funding &
their right to be paid these attestation rates.
Has this ever been audited?
Has the Ministry of Education crossed referenced the claimed hours of an employer, with the
hours they paid staff?
If so how many times in the last year, since the rate change
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
As part of the funding claim audit process, early learning services that are teacher-led have
salary information audited (including cross referencing hours claimed and hours paid) by the
Ministry to ensure they are meeting their obligations on the attestation of certificated teachers’
salaries. Services are required to maintain information to assist with verification. This will
include copies of qualifications and current practising certificates, and records to confirm
salary or wage levels.
Further information is available in the ECE Funding Handbook on our website at the following
links:
x https://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/funding-and-data/funding-
handbooks/ece-funding-handbook/chapter-11-record-keeping/
x https://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/funding-and-data/funding-
handbooks/ece-funding-handbook/completing-the-rs7-return/9-6-attestation-of-
certificated-teachers-salaries/
As the audit process for funding claims is retrospective, and teacher salary rates changed on
1 July 2020, no audits for this period have yet been completed.
OIA: 1423370
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PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140. Phone: +64 4 463 8000 Fax: +64 4 463 8001
education.govt.nz
All licensed services can be subject to a funding claim audit by the Ministry. However, some
services are audited more frequently than others based on potential risks.
Any concerns regarding services’ attestation of certificated teacher salaries can be raised
through their local Ministry office.
Thank you again for your email. You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to review this
decision. You can do this by writing to [email address] or Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
1ƗNXQRDQƗ
Dr Andrea Schöllmann
Deputy Secretary
Education System Policy
education.govt.nz
