NLELC Enrolment Information

Enrolment Procedure

When notified of the availability of a place, both you and your child will be required to visit the Centre for an Orientation Process. During this process, you will:

• Confirm the details on your application form
• Present documentation of your child's immunization
• Pay $100 confirmation fee
• Pay your security deposit (equivalent to a fortnight’s fees)
• Pay your first fortnight’s fees in advance
• Meet with your child's teachers
• Exchange relevant information to assist staff to meet your child's individual needs
• Familiarise yourself and your child with the Centre's routines
• Provide a copy of any custody or access agreements stamped by the court

Waiting List

When the Centre is fully occupied, families needing child care are required to complete an application form. This form is entered on a waiting list and is valid for 12 months only. Child care places are allocated according to the priority determined by the Department of Families and Community Services Guidelines. These include:

• 1st Priority: A child at Risk of serious abuse or neglect
• 2nd Priority: A child of a single parent who satisfies, or parents who both satisfy, the work/training/study tests under section 14 of the Family Assistance Act
• 3rd Priority: Any other children

In the cases of family crisis or other special circumstances, this order of priorities does not apply.

Fees and Administration

On enquiry at the Centre you will be given information outlining the fee structure and method of payment. Parents are invoiced fortnightly on a Friday for the following fortnight. Invoices and receipts are placed in your child’s communication pocket so please check this pocket daily.

It is a policy of New Leaf Early Learning Centre that fees must be paid two weeks in advance before commencing care and maintained once care has commenced. Fees can be paid by cheque, cash, EFTPOS, credit card or ezidebit. Don’t hesitate to speak with the Administration Assistant in relation to your options for paying fees. Please note a1% surcharge will apply to all credit card payments.

Fees are subject to change, and parents will be notified one month in advance of any fee structure change. Fees are payable for all booked days regardless of your child’s attendance. Fees are also payable for public holidays or if the family goes away on holidays. No fees are charged when the Centre is closed over the Christmas/New Year break.

Outstanding fees

If for some reason you experience difficulty paying your fees, please approach the Centre Directors, who will be able to negotiate an appropriate payment plan, if required.

In the event that fees are consistently outstanding you may be asked to reduce your child’s days of attendance, or risk losing their placement at the Centre.

Late pick-up Fee

Parents are reminded that the Centre is open from 7am to 6pm.”Late pick up” is defined as any time after the closing time of the Centre.

If a child is not collected by 6.00 pm parents will be phoned, and if they are unable to be contacted then the emergency contacts you listed on the emergency form will be rung. Should no contact be possible, the Department of Child Safety and/or the Police will need to be contacted.

You also will be aware that staff are rostered on shifts. The last shift of the day ends at 6.00pm. Staff then go onto overtime. Obviously Centre fees do not cover this situation. This is the reason that late fees are in place. Except in the case of extreme emergency (e.g. accident) a late fee of $1 per minute will be charged after 6.00 pm.

The late fee is not subject to CCB or the Childcare Cash Rebate Scheme, and is payable in cash only, directly to the staff involved in your child’s care.

Child Care Benefit

Child Care Benefit is a government subsidy that assists parents to pay for child care. It is provided by the Federal Government Department of Family and Community Services. It is based on a family’s taxable income and the number of dependent children in child care. Families can apply for Child Care Benefit by lodging a claim with any local Family Assistance Office at Centrelink.

It is each parent’s responsibility to ensure their Child Care Benefit application is lodged and failure to do so will result in the full fee being charged until the Service is notified of the level of government subsidy available to the family. Please quote the Centre reference number (CRN) 407 242 327X – Nursery Wing OR 407 279 171T – Pre Prep Wing when registering your child with the Centre through the local Centrelink office. Centrelink can be contacted on 13 61 50.

Allowable Absences

Child Care Benefit is paid for up to 30 allowable absent days for each child per financial year. Allowable absence days can be taken for any reason including holidays. If an absence occurs due to an illness or infectious disease, a medical certificate covering the period is required and will not count towards the allowable absences. Rotating rosters and shared custody arrangements do not count towards absences either, supporting documentary evidence is required.

Termination or Change of Care

A minimum of two weeks’ notice is required prior to finishing care or changing existing bookings, otherwise two weeks fees will be charged in lieu of notice.

Arrival and Departure

Sometimes saying goodbye is more difficult for the parent than the child. We recommend that you tell your child clearly and definitely that you are leaving and you will return to pick them up. A big hug and a firm farewell before leaving will let the child know that there is no negotiation. Staff will settle the child after you leave, and ensure that they join in the activities and become happily distracted. If you would like to check on your child’s progress throughout the day, you are most welcome to telephone us.

It is essential for safety and legal reasons that your child is signed into the Centre on arrival and signed out on departure. If, for some reason, a person other than you brings your child to the Centre that person must sign your child into the Centre.

If for some reason you are unable to collect your child from the Centre, the Director must be informed of the name of the person who will be collecting your child. Any person not listed on the Enrolment Form will be required to fill out a form at the front desk. If this person is not known to Centre staff, photo identification, preferably a Driver's Licence, will be required before the child is released to them.

Where custodial arrangements are in place, the custodian must provide all relevant information to the Director regarding the conditions of custody. On no account will a child be allowed to go home with a parent/guardian in contravention of a custody/court order held at the Centre.

Please note that school aged siblings may not collect your child from the Centre. State legislation requires that the person collecting a child must be a legal adult, that is, at least 18 years of age.

What to bring for your child

Each day all children should bring the following items in a clearly labelled bag:

BABIES: Nursery staff provide new families with a printed list of daily requirements. These include:

• A named sheet
• Enough nappies
• A dummy or comfort toy, if required

Parents are asked to check their child's belongings each afternoon.