OUR FEES POLICY

We aim to provide a clear and accurate fee structure that ensures the Centre can plan for appropriate staffing levels and meet all financial obligations.

• We will review fees annually, to ensure fee increases are manageable for families, increases should be consistent with current inflation.
• If the Centre is informed children are to be absent on their booked days an Absence Fee of 50% of regular fees for the time absent shall apply.
• For children who receive a WINZ Subsidy the Absence Fee will be the equivalent of their subsidy or 50% of their usual fee, which ever is the greater.

NOTIFIED ABSENCES:

Sickness: When the Centre is notified of a child’s absence due to illness before 8:30am (or 12:00pm for those booked for the afternoon only) the Absence Fee shall apply. Parents/caregivers will be charged 100% for the day that their child is attending the Centre, but asked to go home because of sickness. The Absence Fee shall apply thereafter.

Holiday: Five days notice is required for children’s absence due to holidays. A Non-attendance form is completed by parents and passed on to the Office for all holiday absences.

Unnotified Absences: Unnotified absences will be charged at the usual full rate.

Late fee: If children are not picked up within 15 minutes of their booked time staff are to notify the parent/caregiver or emergency contact on the child’s registration form. If children are not collected at the end of the day two staff will stay with the child/children until 6.00pm and a late fee of $10.00 for every 15 minutes will be charged. After this time the police will be notified.

PAYMENT OF FEES:

• All accounts are to be paid weekly in full.
• Weekly statements will be issued to parents and/or on request.
• Payment is due in full 7 days after receipt of invoice.
• Payment is requested by automatic payment or bill payment, and is preferable.

PROVIDERS OF FREE 20 HRS ECE

If you have a 3 or 4 year old, or a 5 year old child who is not enrolled at primary school, you can apply for 20 Hours ECE. This is regardless of your income, whether you or your child is a New Zealand resident or citizen, or any other reason.

How 20 Hours ECE works

• The government subsidises all children who attend ECE.
• 20 Hours ECE is a higher funding subsidy.
• It means that if your child is 3, 4 or 5 and goes to an ECE service or Kōhanga Reo that offers 20 Hours ECE, the cost can be fully subsidised for up to 6 hours a day and up to 20 hours a week.
• You can choose to use as many or as few hours of 20 Hours ECE as you want, up to 6 hours a day and 20 hours a week.

Anyone can apply: If you have a 3 or 4 year old, or a 5 year old child who is not enrolled at primary school, you can apply for 20 Hours ECE. This is regardless of your income, whether you or your child is a New Zealand resident or citizen, or any other reason.

YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR A SUBSIDY

The Childcare Subsidy is for parents whose income is below a certain level. It helps to pay for childcare costs.

The Childcare Subsidy is for parents whose income is below a certain level. It helps to pay for childcare costs. Sometimes, you can receive a mix of both the Childcare Subsidy and 20 Hours ECE. This can happen if your Childcare Subsidy is for more than 20 hours a week. For example, if you are entitled to 30 hours Childcare Subsidy and you choose to claim 20 Hours ECE, then you could receive the Childcare Subsidy for the remaining 10 hours. The Childcare Subsidy cannot be used for the same hours as 20 Hours ECE.

You may get a Childcare Subsidy if:

• you're the main carer of a dependent child.
• you're a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
• your family is on a low or middle income.

You should also normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here. It also depends on how much you and your spouse or partner earn. The child must be:

• under 5 years old (or under 6 years if you get a Child Disability Allowance for them).
• attending an approved early childhood programme for three or more hours a week.

Approved programmes include early childhood education and care services, eg:

• Kindergartens and Preschools
• Childcare centres and Creches
• Playcentres and Playgroups
• Kohanga Reo, Punanga Reo, Aoga and other programmes with a language and culture focus approved home-based care

The Childcare Subsidy is looked after by Work and Income. To find out more about the Childcare Subsidy, go to the Working for Families website or call 0800 559 009.

LINKS TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES

This section includes a list of government organisations contact information and website links.

Work and Income

Work and Income provides financial assistance and employment services throughout New Zealand. We offer a single point of contact for New Zealanders needing job search support, financial assistance and in-work support. We may be able to provide financial help, even if you're working, whether you're looking after your own or someone else's child. Call 0800 559 009 or visit www.workandincome.govt.nz for more info.

Working for Families

Working for Families provides information about Working For Families Tax Credits. Do you qualify for family assistance? 'Working for Families is a package designed to help make it easier to work and raise a family. It pays extra money to many thousands of New Zealand families.' Visit www.ird.govt.nz/working-for-families for more info.

Inland Revenue

Find out information about: Income Tax; Working For Families Tax Credits; GST; Tax Rates and Codes; Student Loans; KiwiSaver and much more. Visit www.ird.govt.nz for more info.