Stand alone care
Care of less than seven children in a centre based or a home based service does not require a license, however, must meet set standards. This type of service is called a stand alone service.
Maximum number of children in each home
A stand alone carer can provide care for up to six children, with no more than four of whom are not yet school children. In deciding how many children a carer is caring for, the carer's own children who are school children are not counted (section 101 of the Child Care Act 2002). For the purposes of this section, 'school child' includes a child who is not yet attending school but is enrolled to attend a school in that year.
Other standards
In addition to the limits on the number of children a carer providing stand alone care can care for, the carer must also:
- be an adult (that is, 18 years of age or older)
- comply with the prescribed notice (blue card) requirements under the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian legislation
- take out public liability insurance in relation to the care they are providing.
Last updated: 02 September 2008.