Our Evolve Whānau

At Evolve Education, our centres offer 20 Hours Free Early Childhood Education (ECE) for eligible families.

This government initiative helps make quality early learning more affordable for everyone.

Here’s how it works:

• Children aged 3, 4, and 5 years old can receive up to 20 hours of free childcare each week.

• You can use up to 6 hours per day, spread across the week to suit your family.

• If your child attends more than one centre, you can split the hours between them (up to 20 hours total).

• There are no fees for the hours covered under the 20 Hours Free ECE scheme.

Additional hours or optional extras
If your child attends more than 20 hours a week, standard fees apply for the extra time. We may also offer optional extras such as special events or activities—these are always voluntary and clearly explained.

To access 20 Hours Free ECE, simply let us know when enrolling your child, and we’ll help you complete the short attestation form required by the Ministry of Education.

We understand that childcare can be a big cost for families — that’s why we accept the Work and Income Childcare Subsidy, which helps reduce fees for eligible parents.

What it is:
The Childcare Subsidy is a payment from Work and Income that helps families pay for early childhood education. The subsidy is paid directly to us, and you just pay the difference. At any point, if there is a change to your fees, you will need to inform Work and Income.

Who can get it:
You may be able to receive the subsidy if you:

• Have a child under 5 years old (or under 6 if they get the Child Disability Allowance)

• Are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and normally live in New Zealand

• Meet the income limits set by Work and Income

How it works:

• If you’re working, studying, or in training, you could get help for up to 50 hours of childcare per week.

• If you’re not currently in work or study, you may still get up to 9 hours per week.

• The subsidy amount depends on your family income and how many children you have.

Using it with 20 Hours Free ECE:
You can use both together!
The 20 Hours Free ECE covers up to 20 free hours each week for 3-5 year olds.
The Childcare Subsidy can help cover any additional hours or costs outside of that.

How to apply:

1. Apply through Work and Income

2. We’ll fill out the centre section of your application form.

3. Once approved, WINZ will pay your subsidy directly to us.

To see if you are eligible for a Childcare Subsidy visit www.workandincome.govt.nz

We’re excited to support FamilyBoost, a government payment designed to help make early learning more affordable.

What is FamilyBoost?
FamilyBoost is a cash payment from Inland Revenue (IRD) that gives families money back for part of their childcare costs. It’s designed to make early childhood education (ECE) more affordable for parents of young children.

How it works:

• You can claim back up to 25% of your childcare fees (after any other subsidies, like 20 Hours Free ECE or the Work and Income Childcare Subsidy).

• From July 2025, the rebate increases to up to 40% of your fees, depending on your income.

• You can get up to $975 per quarter (or up to $1,560 per quarter from July 2025).

• Payments are made directly to you by IRD, every three months.

Who can get it:
You may be eligible if you:

• Have a child aged 5 or under attending a licensed ECE centre

• Are a New Zealand tax resident

• Have a household income below the set limits (the amount you get depends on your income)

How much you may be eligible for:
You can find out what you might be able to claim with the IRD Family Boost Calculator

How to claim:

1. Log in to myIR on the Inland Revenue website.

2. Upload your childcare invoices or statements at the end of each quarter.

3. IRD will process your claim and pay the rebate directly into your bank account.

You can combine FamilyBoost with other supports, like 20 Hours Free ECE and the Work and Income Childcare Subsidy — making childcare even more affordable for your whānau.