Policies 

Minimum Enrollment Requirements

At Leigh Community Preschool we have a minimum enrollment requirement of:
• 2 full days per week / 7 hours per day for children over 3 years
• 2 half days per week / 5 hours per day for children under 3 years

How Our Early Childhood Education Subsidy Works

Leigh Community Preschool is part of the Government 20 hours ECE programme which allows children aged three, four and five to receive 20 hours ECE subsidy each week. The Government pays this subsidy to Leigh Community Preschool once you have completed and signed the enrollment attestation forms.

You are able to use your 20 hours ECE at more than one centre but not for the same times. You can choose to use as many as you want, up to 6 hours per day and 20 hours per week. For more information visit the Parents page of the Ministry of Education website.

However, at Leigh Community Preschool, the subsidy that the Government provides is not sufficient to meet the costs of our high quality education, which includes our lower children to staff ratio, below that of ministry requirements, therefore we ask parents to top up that Government subsidy.

Payments

Preschool fees are to be paid a week in advance by internet banking, direct debit, Invoices are issued fortnightly and we require that all accounts be kept up to date. Fees must be paid for everyday your child is enrolled, including any day your child is absent. Full details of our fees policy are available in our enrollment packs.

Fee Subsidies

Some low to moderate income families may be eligible for the Working for Families Childcare Subsidy from WINZ.  We have application forms available and more details can be found on the Working for Families website: https://www.ird.govt.nz/working-for-families

Collecting Your Children

The preschool is licensed by the Ministry of Education from 8.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Thursday and must close at this time. Please contact us if unforeseen circumstances make it impossible for you to pick up your child on time.

Attendance Requirements

Our hours of business are 8.30am to 3.30pm which is 7 hours per day or 35 hours per week and we expect over 3 year olds to attend the 7 hours per day.

If your child attends less hours than 7 hours on a daily basis, then after 21 days the ministry will stop funding us and therefore there will be an additional charge on top of the regular school fees and this additional charge goes towards the government funding that we will be missing out on due to the child’s absence.

Casual Attendance

Children may attend preschool during a session in which they are not normally enrolled, providing there is a space available. Check with the Centre Manager or the Office Manager prior to the child attending. Casual attendance is payable upon invoice and will be charged at the under 3 rate of $7 per hour.

Holidays

The preschool is closed during the primary school holidays and public holidays. Public holidays are charged in full if they fall on the day your child is enrolled. We do not charge fees during school holidays. You need to discuss any extended absences with the Centre Manager.

Changes to Bookings

You are welcome to change permanent bookings for your child. Please discuss your requirements with the Centre Manager or the Office Manager. Availability of space will affect whether or not you can book another session or day. You will be required to sign a Change of Booking form. This will be given to you by the Office Manager.

Absences

If your child is going to be away from preschool, please phone us to let us know before 8.30am. Any long-term absence from Preschool will need to be discussed with Centre and Office Manager and an appropriate approach, fee and course of action will be arranged.

Withdrawing from Preschool

If you wish to withdraw your child from Leigh Community Preschool you must provide two weeks noticing in writing. 

Ratios Explained

The Ministry of Education requirements of staff to child ratio is:
1: 5 children under 2 and
1: 10 children Over 2

At Leigh Community Preschool we believe in high quality care and education and therefore we provide a staff to child ratio of:
1:3 for Under 2’s
1:6 for 2-3yr olds
1:8 for over 3 year olds