ABOUT US
The Kids Cottage is a non-profit organisation managed by a volunteer Committee of parents and school community members. The Committee is a sub-committee of the Middle Harbour Public School Parents & Citizens Association (P&C).
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The Centre currently caters for up to 230 children daily, which is separated into three groups for After School Care and four groups for Vacation Care allowing for our programs to reflect the cognitive, social, physical and emotional development of each child.
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CENTRE PHILOSOPHY
At The Kids Cottage we believe in providing an unbiased, age appropriate, creative, active and fun program with a variety of choice, in a safe and caring environment.
We believe in respecting individuality whilst challenging the children's growth cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically and encouraging the development of essential life skills.
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RATIOS
Our Educator to Child ratios as outlined in the National Standards is maintained at all times. These include:
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In Centre 1:15
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On Excursions 1:8
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When Swimming 1:5
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There will be a minimum of 2 Educators present at all times.
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CURRENT FEES
Before School Care:
Permanent $16.75 Casual $18.75
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After School Care:
Permanent $27.50 Casual $29.50
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Vacation Care:
MH Families $78.00 Non MH Families $89.00 per day
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Late Vacation Care Booking Fee: Applied for any booking requests made after close of business on the Friday before the last week of Term.
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MH Families $83.00 Non MH Families $94.00 per day
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ASC Search Fee:
$10 (Non Notification of your Child's Absence)
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Late Fee:
$1 per minute after scheduled opening hours
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New Hat Fee:
$9
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Spare Hat Fee:
$1
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Parent Management Committee reviews the centre fees as part of the annual budget. The last review was 24th July 2023
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OPENING HOURS
The Centre is open for Before and After School Care, Monday to Friday coinciding with the school year. Kids Cottage also provides Vacation Care during the school holidays.
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Before School Care
7:00am - 9:00am
After School Care
3:00pm - 6:30pm
Vacation Care and Pupil Free Days
8:00am - 6:00pm
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The Centre closes for two weeks over Christmas.
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CANCELLATIONS
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Please be aware of our 14-day cancellation policy for all permanent bookings.
Vacation care booking cancellation policy now requires 14 days’ notice in writing prior to the day of the booking for cancellation without charge.​
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We require 24hrs notice to cancel a casual Before or After School Care booking without charge otherwise the casual booking will be marked as absent.
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NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS ASSESSMENT AND RATING
Kids Cottage Middle Harbour is governed by the NQS who set a benchmark for the quality of all education and care services across Australia. The NQS is made up of seven quality areas with services then being assessed and rated by their regulatory authority against these areas to determine their level of quality.
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In 2021 the Kids Cottage underwent Assessment and Rating, a process in which ACECQA, the governing body, assessed the service against the 7 quality areas of the National Quality Standards and was given an overall rating based on these results. The Kids Cottage Achieved “Meeting National Quality Standard”