Coogee
Under Construction: Commencing January 2023!
St Brigid’s Preschool & Long Day Care
135B Brook Street, Coogee NSW 203402 9568 8628
Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00am – 6:00pm
Ages: 0 to 6 years old
Opening in 2023 for the Coogee community!
Dear Parents and Families,
Sydney Catholic Early Childhood Services (SCECS) are delighted to be working alongside the community at St Brigid’s.
The decision by families to entrust the care of their child to someone else is immense and we hope that as you come to know us, we will become a trusted, integral part of your family and community.
As a not-for-profit service, supporting our growing communities, our Catholic values of inclusion, equity and welcome, guide our daily interactions and decision making. Children and their families are central to all that we do at SCECS.
We want all children to have access to a high quality service with exceptional teachers and educators. Our learning spaces are designed as the ‘third teacher’ offering children the opportunity to grow and flourish in environments that inspire a love of learning and nourish their wellbeing. In conversation with families and carers, we will design programs of education and care that are unique to your child’s needs.
We look forward to meeting, working and getting to know all the children in our care and their families.
Franceyn O’Connor
Chief Executive Officer
Sydney Catholic Early Childhood Services Ltd
We believe that we are founded on the person of Jesus Christ and enlivened by the gospel.
We believe that each child, family and educator is unique and valued individually. We value and honour diversity and accept and celebrate differences in other people. We believe each person and their family’s values, culture, beliefs, abilities and language should be acknowledged and accepted and reflected in our OSHC environment.
We believe that secure, respectful and nurturing relationships are foundational to a child’s sense of belonging and wellbeing. Our educators provide opportunities for children to develop a strong sense of wellbeing and social competence, where qualities of fairness, humour, empathy and understanding are developed.
We believe play is essential in children’s lives. We believe play values the ideal of allowing children to “just be” as a right of all children. We believe play should be fun, exciting, spontaneous, hands-on, stimulating, relaxing, comforting and challenging. Indoor and outdoor play will be part of the daily rhythm of the OSHC program.
We believe children are capable, resourceful and valued members of the community. We believe children should be encouraged and supported to follow their learning interests. Activities during service hours will be matched to children’s interests, providing meaningful and engaging opportunities to create, explore and build knowledge and understanding.
We believe in supporting and developing a partnership with families to share in the nurturing and education of their children. We encourage each family to participate in the SCECS community and support and welcome their interest and involvement.
Current Fees
Preschool and Long Day Care (11 hour session)
7:00am – 6:00pm
- 6 weeks – 2 years old – $160
- 2 – 3 years old – $155
- 3 – 6 years old – $145
The daily fee will be reduced if families are eligible for Child Care Subsidy
The majority of families in our services would not pay the full daily fee because they receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) from the government.
Other Fees
- Special Events: Families will be notified, these may be for events such as incursions at the services
- Dishonour Fee: If direct debit is declined, families will be notified by SCECS that a family deposit may be debited and bank fees charged.
Late Fee For Pick-Ups After Service Closing Time
-
- 0-15 minutes late: $20.00
- Every 5 minutes thereafter: $10.00
*Fees are subject to change, however, you will be notified in writing two weeks prior to any fee changes.
Absent Fees
Initial Absence Days
Like most early childhood services and preschools, your child’s place is reserved when they are away so the day still needs to be paid for. Each financial year, the Family Assistance Office will pay your child’s CCS entitlements for the first 42 absence days. These absences can be for any reason, including public holidays, and the initial 42 days must be used before any additional absences can be claimed (please see below).
Additional Absence Days
You may receive CCS for absence days after the initial 42 days each financial year. For all absences beyond the first 42 absent days, CCS will only be paid if you are able to provide evidence to demonstrate the absence has occurred under permitted circumstances. There is no limit on these days, but you will be required to provide documentation to support the absence.
Exceptional Absence Days
You may receive CCS for an additional 20 exceptional absence days after the initial 42 absence days per financial year. These entitlements can be claimed without evidence if documentation is provided for 31 of the initial 42 absence days.
No Charge for Public Holidays
If a public holiday falls on the day of a permanent booking that you hold, you will NOT be charged for this day.
Taking Holidays
Normal fees apply for all absences (including Public Holidays) that fall on a usual day of attendance.
Withdrawal from Care
Families provide two week’s written notice to cancel your child’s booked attendance at our services. The two weeks’ advance payment we hold will be applied to your notice period. If your child does not attend their last usual days, full fees will apply. This means that CCS will not be applied.
Child Care Subsidy
All families are eligible to apply for Child Care Subsidy (CCS). It is income tested and usually paid directly to the childcare services to reduce the fees that eligible families pay. Families can apply for the CCS online or in person through Centrelink. Once you have contacted Centrelink, you will need to provide the centre with your Parent and Child Customer Reference Number (CRN) to claim CCS.
Centrelink Office. Ph: 13 61 50.
Fees – Direct Debit
All fees are paid by Direct Debit. Fees are paid fortnightly in advance. Payments will be debited from the family’s nominated account, or as otherwise advised. Strict regulations are followed to ensure that this information is confidential. At the beginning of each term, a notice will be emailed to families, outlining the dates that the Direct Debit will be processed.
Please ensure you have sufficient funds in your account to cover your fortnightly childcare fees. If you have insufficient funds when your Direct Debit is due, please contact the Centre in writing by close of business on the Wednesday of the Direct Debit week. Direct Debit rejections incur a dishonour fee payable by the parent (see current Schedule of Fees above).
SCECS fortnightly Direct Debit payment system is designed to make payments easy.
Download the 2020 SCECS Direct Debit Calendar here
Download the 2021 SCECS Direct Debit Calendar here
Need to change your payment details?
To update your nominated bank account or credit card details for direct debit payments, please send your updated details to the SCECS Management Team at scecs@syd.catholic.edu.au
Late Payments
Parents are encouraged to discuss any difficulties they may have in paying fees with your SCECS Director. Applications for arrangements in the event of financial hardship should be made to SCECS in writing. If no previous arrangements have been made regarding late payment of fees, SCECS is entitled to terminate the child’s placement after giving one week’s written notice.
In the event that fees are late due to direct debits being declined because of insufficient funds, SCECS will send one reminder email. At the end of two weeks, the child’s placement will be ended and the family’s deposit debited.
In the event of reminder letters being issued more than twice in any 2 month period, SCECS reserves the right to terminate a placement without further reminders.
Invoice / Statements
Invoices/statements are emailed fortnightly.
Importance of Early Learning
Facilities & provisions
Enquiring about care
New enrolments
Existing enrolments
Fees, benefits & the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
Immunisation
Our staff