Parent Fees Policy

 

 
Background Information:

Licensing Criteria 2008, Management and Administration

 

GMA3 - Written information letting parents know:

  • Any fees charged by the service

 

Rationale:

We are a private, fee-charging education service. Parents are paying for a place for their child not when their child attends. To provide continuity of care and to abide by Ministry of Education ratios, the Centre employs teachers on permanent employment agreements and incurs costs for salaries on a daily basis.

 

Procedures:

  • Tiny Turtles Educare is open 50 weeks of the year including school holidays.  The centre is closed for public holidays.

  • Our fees are calculated over 50 weeks of the year for ease of direct debit payments and administration.

  • While we appreciate that absences will occur, our fees are to be paid for the 50 weeks that we are open each year regardless of statutory holidays, illness, family vacation times or if directed to close by Public Health due to an outbreak of a communicable disease. However, we are able to reduce fees to 50% for two weeks absence if three weeks’ notice is given by hardcopy written format. This notice period allows us to plan for staffing requirements.

  • Fees are paid for statutory holidays.

  • A 10% discount is offered for two or more children in a family and the discount is applied to the oldest child.

  • One week’s fees are payable prior to your child’s first day at Tiny Turtles Educare;

  • A bond of 2 weeks fees are also payable prior to your child’s first day, payable in advance upon enrolment;

  • Children must be enrolled for a minimum of 2 days per week and we request at least 7 hours per day so children can participate in all activities and routines;

  • Fees are GST inclusive and are to be paid by direct debit authority each Friday for the following week; but should you want to pay fortnightly or monthly that can be discussed upon enrolment;

  • Tiny Turtles Educare can provide all wipes and nappies for children under the age of 2 years should you want for a cost of $2 per day in addition to the fees above.  A ‘sleep’ nappy can be provided free of charge for toilet trained children if required.

  • A late fee of $1.00 per minute will be charged when parents are late to collect their child at the correct times.

  • Parents agree their child is not enrolled in any other early childhood service on the same day they attend our Centre;

  • To run a quality centre, it is essential that we keep ahead of costs. Our fees are reviewed on 1 February each year and if an increase is to occur, this increase will be effective 1 April.

  • WINZ subsidies are available but parents are responsible for their account until the WINZ subsidy comes through;

  • If you are planning to withdraw your child from Tiny Turtles Educare, you must give two week’s written notification.

  • Parents will be notified immediately if Tiny Turtles Educare discovers a payment is missed;

  • Parents will have five working days from the date of notification to bring their account up to date or to make a payment arrangement. Any payment arrangement is agreed to at the discretion of Centre management.

  • A 10% late payment penalty will be added to your account should the payments not be made on time.

  • Failure to pay missed fees may result in a child’s enrolment being revoked.

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20 Hours ECE:

  • Tiny Turtles Educare is pleased to be able to offer the Government initiative of 20 hours early childhood education to children aged 3-6 years.

  • Please note it is optional for early childhood centres to provide this initiative and Tiny Turtles Educare reserves the right to revoke this initiative if it becomes unsustainable.

 

The rate that has been offered by the Government does not cover:

  • The costs of providing higher teacher: child ratios;

  • Extra resources and equipment available to children;

  • The maintenance and costs of running centres in more costly areas;

  • Administration costs to implement this policy.

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  • Our Centre is open for 11 hours per day with an applicable daily rate for children over 3. Each day, a child can receive 6 hours of Free ECE, up to 20 hours per week.

  • A parent can only get 20 hours ECE if the Centre has hours to offer them;

  • A child must use 6 hours of the 20 hours free ECE in any one day;

  • If your child is enrolled at more than one centre, parents must attest the number of hours they are using at each centre.

  • WINZ Childcare subsidy forms are available if applicable to your family.  Please note that you are unable to claim WINZ support for the same hours that you are claiming for 20 Hours ECE.

  • All WINZ payments must be received before they can be deducted from your account, if we have not received payment fees will be charged in full until they come through.

 

Holidays:

  • Public Holidays are charged in full except for any hours attested as 20 Hours ECE.

  • A day in lieu may be offered to those whole day falls on a public holiday.  This is subject to places being available and must be taken within the same week as the public holiday.  These additional days are offered on a first in first served basis and does not apply to those attending a full week.

  • Every child is entitled to up to 2 weeks annual leave at a reduced charge of 50% of your normal fee during the year.  Week is defined Monday to Friday (e.g. if enrolled for 3 days per week then 2 weeks equals up to 6 days).  Families must notify the centre 2 weeks prior in writing to receive the holiday discount.

  • For families taking an extended holiday of more than 2 weeks, you will be required to pay the first two weeks at a reduced charge of 50% of your normal fee during the year, then 20% of your fee if you wish to hold your child’s place.

  • If your child has already used the 2 weeks holiday discount at 50% for the year, and you wish to apply again for the same year, you will be required to pay the centres full rate for the next lot of 2 weeks holiday, and can then be charged 20% of the fee for the remaining holiday to hold your child’s place.

  • If there are any questions or queries regarding fees or invoices then please get in contact with the centre’s management.