How much does it cost?

We know that sometimes cost can be an issue. At Kidsfirst we aim to keep our charges as low as we possibly can...to encourage children to come to our kindy and enjoy a learning experience that will be of benefit to them for the rest of their lives.

In addition to this, the Government offers options for free or subsidised hours.

It's important to us that as many Canterbury and Westland children as possible get to be 'kindy kids'. For that reason, Kidsfirst is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation, and we work to keep our fees as low as possible.

The cost of attending your local Kidsfirst will depend on the sort of service it is:

• Kindergartens licensed as a sessional service will have lower fees than those operating under an all day licence. The reason for this difference is that the operating costs are a lot higher for an all day kindergarten than a sessional one.
• Parents may also be asked to make voluntary payments called 'optional charges' - this is to pay for specific additional items and services that are not covered in the fee (for example, excursions). It's your choice as to whether you want to order these additional services or not, but once ordered, you are liable for payment.

Our fee schedule

We are currently reviewing our fee structure. Please talk directly to our teachers for more details, or call us 0800 4 KIDSFIRST (0800 454 373).

Free ECE – what does it mean to me?

The Government covers kindergarten fees for 3 and 4 year olds for up to 20 hours per week.

All Kidsfirst kindergartens offer Free ECE hours to enrolled 3 and 4 year olds for up to six hours per day, but the amount you can get will vary, depending on the centre concerned.

• A child enrolled at an all day Kidsfirst service will probably be able to access the entire 20 hours worth of fees funding
• Those attending morning kindergarten may get up to 17 hours per week worth of free hours from a single kindergarten
• Afternoon children can receive up to 7.5 hours worth of Free ECE hours from their Kidsfirst service each week
• Our standard fee will apply to any hours over and above your Free ECE allocation
• If you have more than one child at the same Kidsfirst kindergarten using their full 20 free hours entitlement, we can offer you a 10% discount on any fees charged for each additional child.

If you can’t get the whole 20 hours from a single service, you can split your hours across more than one Kidsfirst kindergarten, or your child’s allocation of Free ECE can be split between Kidsfirst Kindergartens and another service provider.

If your child does not start school when they turn 5, they can continue to receive Free ECE for up to 28 calendar days after their 5th birthday. On the conclusion of this period fees will be charged for the total hours that your child attends a Kidsfirst kindergarten.

To access Free ECE with Kidsfirst you need to undertake three steps:

• Talk with your head teacher about the Free ECE hours available via your Kidsfirst kindergarten
• Nominate how many Free ECE hours you will use there/at another service
• Sign the Ministry of Education Attestation Form to confirm the hours you are claiming.

Other funding: childcare subsidy

Depending upon eligibility, a childcare subsidy may be available through Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ).

Parents and caregivers may choose between receiving the Childcare Subsidy (CCS) or Free ECE, or in some cases a combination of both.

The WINZ subsidy cannot be claimed for Free ECE hours – but can be claimed for hours not covered by the Free ECE.

The amount available from WINZ varies depending on the number of children parents have and their income. In most cases it is advisable to use the full 20 Free ECE hours available and then top up any hours with the CCS, depending upon eligibility.

Check out www.workingforfamilies.govt.nz/childcare-assistance for more.