Workforce solutions built for early childhood services

Employment Hero helps early learning providers replace paper-heavy HR, onboarding, rostering and payroll admin with streamlined processes, so they can spend more time supporting children and families.

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Here is the latest addition to our digital asset library:

Childcare_Hero@2x-1024x1024.webp: A close-up overhead shot of a wooden art table in a childcare or early learning setting. Three bright teal cups hold colored pencils and black markers, resting among scattered pieces of children's artwork. In the foreground, a white sheet of paper displays colorful painted handprints in black, red, and yellow, signed with the name "Gabriel." A yellow and blue toy rolling pin is visible in the top left corner.

Trusted by ECE centers globally.

4.5/5 on Capterra 4.1/5 on Trustpilot 4.4/5 on G2

What’s really making running an early learning service so hard?

PAIN POINT 1

Managing ratios with a casual and part-time workforce

ECE centres run on precise educator-to-child ratios. But when staff call in sick, swap shifts or move between rooms, keeping compliant coverage becomes a daily scramble. Especially when rosters live in spreadsheets or group chats.

✦ EMPLOYMENT HERO

Real-time rostering with built-in visibility means you can see coverage across rooms and locations instantly.

PAIN POINT 2

Hiring qualified educators fast enough

The early childhood sector faces a persistent talent shortage. Finding and onboarding qualified ECE teachers, head teachers and support staff quickly is one of the sector’s biggest operational headaches.

✦ EMPLOYMENT HERO

Our AI recruitment tool instantly matches you with pre-qualified candidates. Automated onboarding ensures new team members complete Children’s Act safety checks, upload practising certificates and sign contracts before their first shift.

PAIN POINT 3

Employment agreements and payroll complexity

Teachers and support staff are governed by Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs) or Collective Employment Agreements (CEAs). Managing complex Pay Parity steps, allowances and Holidays Act 2003 compliance across varying qualification levels can quickly lead to payroll errors.

✦ EMPLOYMENT HERO

We improve payroll compliance and agreement management, applying the correct Pay Parity rates, allowances and leave entitlements automatically so your payroll stays more compliant.

Are manual tasks slowing your centres down? See how we help

Build and manage rosters across your centres with complete visibility over who is working, where and when. With teacher registrations and qualifications stored centrally, centre managers can easily maintain Ministry of Education staff-to-child ratios without juggling spreadsheets.

New teachers and support staff can complete all paperwork, submit Police vetting details, upload safety check documentation, sign contracts and acknowledge policies before stepping into the room. Centre managers receive real-time notifications once complete, eliminating paper forms and manual chasing.

From entry-level support staff to registered teachers and head teachers, Employment Hero automatically applies the correct pay rates, Pay Parity steps and leave entitlements. Qualification and service progressions update seamlessly so you never have to calculate step increases manually.

Assign and track mandatory training, first aid, child protection and CPR certifications across your entire team. Automated reminders flag upcoming renewal dates before compliance gaps occur, keeping your records fully digital and audit-ready for the Ministry of Education.

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Run your centre. We’ll handle the employment side

Employment Hero gives early education providers the compliance confidence, payroll accuracy and people tools to grow without the admin holding them back.

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Customers rate us 4.5★ on Capterra