CHILDCARE SUBSIDY

The Child Care Subsidy is a payment from the Government that will provide financial assistance towards the cost of your child’s care and reduce the cost of your total child care fees. It is available to you if you are a parent, foster parent or grandparent with a child in your care who is attending a child care program approved by the Government. There are certain requirements you need to meet to be eligible for CCS. Until your CCS has been approved and has commenced, we will require full payment of your child’s early learning and care fees.

There are three key factors that will determine how much Child Care Subsidy families may receive:

The combined family income– how much families earn. Your fortnightly family activity level– how much families work, train, study or volunteer. The fees charged by the child care service. The Child Care Subsidy will be paid directly to providers to be passed on to families as a fee reduction. Families will make a co-contribution to their child care fees and pay to the provider the difference between the fee charged and the subsidy amount.

Like most early learning centres, your child’s place is reserved when they are absent and therefore the day is still charged for. Every financial year, your child’s place is reserved when they are absent and therefore the day is still charged for. Every financial year, the Family Assistance Office will pay your child’s Child Care Subsidy entitlements for the first 42 absent days. For any absences beyond the first 42 absent days, CCS will only be paid if you are able to provide evidence to demonstrate the absence has occurred under permitted circumstances. There is no limit on these days, but you will be required to provide medical documentation to support the absence.

Our centre is closed on all public holidays, however fees still apply if any of your usual days of attendance fall on a public holiday. Nevertheless, if your fees are up to date, the centre will credit your fees for any public holiday as an incentive.

Holiday discounts are available provided the centre is provided with 2 weeks written notice of the expected holiday period. Fee payments must be made up to date to receive any holiday discount.

Families must provide two week’s written notice to cancel your child’s booked attendance at Montessori Merrylands Childcare.

We endeavour to support the changing needs of families and their children. Two weeks’ written notice is required to change or cancel your child’s regular booked days of attendance.

If you would like to swap your child’s regular days, and the alternative days you want are available in the same week, this can be offered at your Centre Director’s discretion. We will notify you during the week prior if we are able to accommodate your request, as vacancies cannot be confirmed until this time. If your child does not attend on the requested alternative days, or if the requested alternative days are not available and your child does not attend on their regular days, your usual charges will apply for the absence.

Additional days can be requested at any time and taken immediately if available. If unavailable, your request for additional days can be added to your centre’s waiting list