OSCAR: Becoming an approved provider
How to become an approved OSCAR provider.
The benefits of gaining OSCAR approval
- Greater reassurance to parents and caregivers
- Parents and caregivers may apply for the OSCAR subsidy
- External independent assurance of the programme’s standard
- Providers can apply for OSCAR funding grants from Work and Income
- OSCAR approval gives a marketing advantage
- Becoming approved creates the foundation for an effective quality-focused organisation
Getting funding
Funding for approved programmes
You can apply for OSCAR Assistance Funding to help with the day to day costs of running your approved programme. Funding rounds take place each year in April and September. For closing dates go to the OSCAR Foundation website
For more information about the types of OSCAR funding available go to the OSCAR Foundation website.
Help with the day to day costs of running your approved programme.
Funding for unapproved programmes
You can apply for a one-off Development Grant to assist you with the costs related to establishing and/or meeting the OSCAR Standards for Approval. You do not need to be an OSCAR Standards approved provider to apply for this grant.
Funding for parents
Parents and caregivers may be able to get an OSCAR Subsidy. This subsidy helps with the costs of before-school and after-school programmes for up to 20 hours a week, and school holiday programmes of up to 50 hours a week.
Getting approval
Who can approve an OSCAR programme?
Child, Youth and Family, a service of the Ministry of Social Development, can approve an OSCAR programme.
What do I need to do if I want to become approved?
In the first instance, you should talk to the OSCAR Foundation. It can help you develop your policies and procedures and help you complete your application for assessment. Your application will then be assessed by Child, Youth and Family.
What does the assessment involve?
The Child, Youth and Family Assessor will consider your policies and procedures to determine if they meet the OSCAR Standards for Approval. Then the Assessor will visit your facilities to check that they meet the Standards.
You can apply to become an approved provider by completing the assessment application form below:
The OSCAR Standards for Approval and Provider Guide will also help you with your preparation:
Getting help for your OSCAR assessment
How do I know if I need help to prepare for the OSCAR Standards for Approval assessment?
Try this self-test:
- Do you have previous experience of writing policies and procedures?
- Are you confident you understand what the Standards require and how to implement them in your day to day operations?
- Do you have past experience of preparing for any other external audit or assessment against a standard?
- Have your facilities and programmes been independently assessed by someone external to your organisation?
- Have you already obtained OSCAR Standards for Approval for a previous programme and are applying for approval of another programme?
- Are you familiar with the requirements for the current OSCAR Standard for Approval? (The Standards were updated in 2005.)
- Are you well-informed about your broader legal requirements in areas such as finance and payroll, employment, and health and safety legislation?
If you have answered NO to any of these questions you might need help.
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you can still get help if required
How do I get help if I need it?
The Ministry of Social Development works in partnership with the OSCAR Foundation to provide advice and support for new and non-approved providers to meet the OSCAR Standards for Approval.
This government-funded assistance is free and includes coaching to new and non-approved providers who want to become OSCAR approved.
You can contact the OSCAR Foundation by either:
- calling 0800 466 7227
- visiting their website.
How long does the approval process take
How long will it take to prepare my application for assessment against the OSCAR Standards?
It could take approximately 60 hours for you to develop your policies and procedures in line with the OSCAR Standards.
Child, Youth and Family assesses new applications and conducts reviews of providers who are already approved. Child, Youth and Family aims to process an application as soon as possible, preferably within eight weeks. Child, Youth and Family will give you an indication of the likely timeframe for completion of the assessment when they send you an acknowledgement in response to receipt of your application. However these timeframes do not include the additional time you will need if you are required to carry out further development work on your application, following the assessment.
Allow an extra four to eight weeks for unexpected delays. There could be:
- Additional work required on your policies and procedures following assessment.
- Possible delays in criminal conviction checks of all proposed staff and volunteers. You cannot employ staff on OSCAR approved programmes until they have been vetted by the Police.
More information and help with managing the funding and approval timelines is provided in the timeframes chart below.
What do I need to know about timeframes for funding and OSCAR approval processes?
The following timeline is a general guide for new or non-approved providers. A key factor in determining how long it will take to get approved is the amount of time you can put aside to develop your policies and procedures to the standard required.
The timeline is to assist you in planning the development of OSCAR Standards for Approval and applying for OSCAR Development and Assistance Funding for your programme(s).
Important: You can start operating your programme when you are ready. You can also apply for a Development Grant at any time of the year to help with costs related to the establishment of your programme and/or costs associated with gaining OSCAR Standards for Approval.
Buying an existing business that is already OSCAR approved
OSCAR approval is not transferable. A new application for approval is required where an existing business changes ownership. This applies even if there are no changes to the staff, policies or facilities. We suggest that you discuss this with Child, Youth and Family.
More information about developing OSCAR programmes visit: