Enrolment

The Ministry of Education partially funds all children who attend Early Childhood Centres. This funding varies by the age of your child. Below you will find 2 fee tables - one for children 2 years old and one for children 3 and over.

The Ministry of Education partially funds 2 year old child to a maximum of 30 hours per week. Our fees for children 2 years old are as follows:

Further funding under the 20 Hours ECE scheme is available for three to five-year old children, up to a maximum of 20 hours per week, with a maximum of 6 hours per day. The Ministry of Education requires that families must attest that these hours are used at our centre, we have the forms for you to sign.

If your child is 3 years of age or over, they are entitled to receive 20 hours ECE.

If your child attends The Cottage and another centre, and the 20 ECE hours used between the two centres exceeds the maximum of 20 ECE hours which can be claimed in total, we charge the optional charge, plus $6.00 per hour for partially funded hours and $12.00 per hour unfunded hours.  Talk to us if this applies to your family. 

When we charge a fee this covers the remaining hours that government subsidies do not cover, for example if your child attends for more than 6 hours a day and is over the maximum 20 hours per week.

Fees are charged only for the days that The Cottage Kindergarten is open. This means you are not charged when the day your child attends falls on a public holiday.

Fees are charged for the days The Cottage is open, for the days your child is booked. The Cottage is open throughout the year, closing for only three weeks over the Christmas period. When your child is away for a family holiday, and when we are given two weeks prior notice, holidays are charged at ½ the usual rate, this is to a maximum of 4 weeks per year.

General absences are charged at the full daily rate.

WINZ subsidies are available through Work and Income. If you are eligible for a subsidy please talk to us as we have the forms available. Normal fees are payable until the subsidy is received by us.

Ph 0800 559 009 www.workandincome.govt.nz

We rely on prompt payment of fees. It can be awkward for both staff and families to be following up on unpaid fees. Fees can be paid by cash, cheque, automatic payment or bill payment. If paying by cash or cheque please always ask for a receipt; it protects you and the staff member who is taking the payment. We ask for one week payment in advance payable on the first day of attendance and that your account remains current.