Ko te rau, ko ia te kite
Don't sit back, have a go ... they who seek shall find.
The Childcare Association is a chartered Early Childhood Education Service administered by the Director and an elected Management Committee. It is financially supported by the University of Otago for staff and student children and operates 3 Early Childhood Centres on the edge of campus and an Early Childhood Centre situated on the College of Education site.
All Early Childhood Centres are open between 8am and 5.15pm for a minimum of 49 weeks per year with a closedown during the Christmas Holidays.
Morning tea, a cooked lunch and afternoon tea are provided in all centres. 20 hours free childcare, to a maximum of 6 hours per day, is available for all 3 and 4 year olds in the Fulltime, Preschool and College Centres.
WINZ subsidies provide financial assistance to familes based on income.
At present there are long waiting registers operating at all centres. Placement on the register does not guarantee you a place in the centre.
Waiting Register
Download the appropriate waiting register form, complete and email to ouca@xtra.co.nz or post to PO Box 6162, Dunedin.
- Waiting Register Form for under 2s (32k in MS Word format)
- Waiting Register Form for over 2s (32k in MS Word format)
Acceptance of a place
As part of our enrolment process a deposit of $250 is required on acceptance of a place for your child in the centre. This is to reflect the investment of time our teachers make in settling your child and the costs incurred by OUCA if you fail to take up the place accepted.
The deposit will be forfeited if the enrolment is cancelled between the time you sign this agreement to accept the place offered and one month after your child’s start date at the centre. If the enrolment proceeds then the deposit will be credited to your child’s fees account.
In certain circumstances OUCA will consider reducing this fee.
Fees Schedule
OUCA Fees - inclusive of GST (1st April 2013 to 31st March 2014)
| Centre | Period | Hourly rate | Charge | Less 5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nursery | Hourly rate (2hrs twice a week min) Bookings are accepted in half hour blocks | $7.69 | $7.30 | |
Pre School | Hourly rate (2hrs twice a week min) Bookings are accepted in half hour blocks 20 Hrs free available for 3 and 4 year olds optional food charge of $20 max, with 20 hrs free | $6.48 | $6.16 | |
College | Hourly rate Bookings are accepted in quarter hour blocks 20 Hrs free available for 3 and 4 year olds Optional food chrage of $20 max, with 20 hrs free
| $7.34 | $6.97 | |
| Full Time | 5 days x 6 hrs minimum enrolment | $6.48 | $6.16 | |
| Bookings accepted in half hour blocks | ||||
20 Hrs free available for 3 and 4 year olds Optional food charge of $20 max, with 20hrs free |
Notes
1) The 5% discount is only applicable if the bill is paid by the 17th of the month.
2) A "Late pick up fee" of $10 is charged if children are not collected on time at the end of the day. (at the discretion of the Director).
3) Enrolment fees are due annually, charged in April , as given below
Optional Charge -Enrolment Fee
Per Family $10.00
4) Full fees are charged on statutory holidays (excluding Christmas and New Year) if they fall on an enrolled day. Parents of children enrolled part-week in preschool or nursery may arrange to use paid statutory holidays on another date within two months if space is available. (Note that the 50% holding fee does not apply to statutory holidays)
5) All absences due to sickness will incur full fees unless other arrangements are made with the office, in case of serious illness.
6) Two week's advance notice is required when a child is finishing at the centre or going on leave.
7) Leave of 21 calendar days or less requires a 50% holding fee to retain space. Leave of more than 21 calendar days during the year requires full fees to be charged if the place is to be held. For University of Otago students -after the end of the academic year if enrolment for the year is finished there is no charge but a new booking is required to to secure a a place in the next year.(ID Required)
8) Where personal circumstances are difficult or complex, the Director has the discretion to modify fees or requirements as necessary.
9) The Childcare Subsidy from Work & Income New Zealand (WINZ) provides financial assistance to help parents afford the cost of childcare fees. The minimum booking must be for 3 hours weekly and eligibiity is assessed by WINZ.
10)As part of our enrolment process a deposit of $250 is required on acceptance of a place for your child at a centre. The deposit will be forfeited if the enrolment is cancelled between the time you sign the agreement to accept the place offered and one month after your child's start date at a centre. If the enrolment proceeds then the deposit will be credited to your child's fees account.
11) We expect to be paid on time. If you cannot pay please speak to the Director as soon as possible. An automatic payment option is available. If an outstanding debt is not addressed in a timely manner a child's enrolment may be cancelled. We will pursue outstanding debts to the Court if necessary. The cost of recovering the debt will be charged to the debtor.
Our Kawa
We show respect for each others' culture.
At Centre, chairs are for sitting on, and tables are for food.
We walk around others, not over them.
We show respect for each other's names. Teaching staff will help you, if you are in doubt about someone's name.
We recognise and respect, that for Māori, the head is tapu.
We do not use food as play, or art material.
We endeavour to resolve conflict in respectful ways, and not by hitting or abusing others.
