In New Zealand there are many different types of early childhood services. When parents are looking for an early childhood service for their child, they may choose a particular service because of its type. Some services, such as kindergartens and education and care services, are teacher-led and. Others, such as Playcentres and kōhanga reo, are parent-led. The 2009 monographs cover Playcentres, Kindergartens, Home Based Early Childhood Education Services, and Infant and Toddler Centres
The Education Review Office (ERO) reviews all licensed early childhood services and reports publicly on the quality of education and care that each service provides. ERO has used the findings from these reviews to write the early childhood monograph series. The purpose of the series is to provide evaluative information about groups of services. Parents can use this information along with the ERO report Early Childhood Education: A Guide for Parents, June 2007, 2 and ERO reports on individual services, to help make decisions about which early childhood service best fits their needs and aspirations for their child.