Long Day Care children attending the centre are encouraged to sleep/rest during the day. However, no child will be forced to sleep. The length of time a child sleeps/rests is individual and dependent on their needs. Children who do not sleep/rest will be able to do quiet indoor activities.

Lunch is brought in from home (and put into the fridge), to ensure children are able to have foods that they enjoy and are not allergic to, this also allows parents to know exactly what the child has eaten at lunch (all food not eaten is sent home).

FRUIT: Each child brings in a piece of fruit each day for the classroom fruit basket.  This is cut and used for play lunch and afternoon tea.
MILK: The centre provides milk (cows) for afternoon tea.
WATER: Children have access to water at all times.

CHILD CARE BENEFITS
Families who attend our centre are eligible to apply for Child Care Subsidy. Please see Centrelink BEFORE your child attends care. They will assess your income and inform the school of the percentage that they will pay toward your fees. Calculations and adjustments are made AFTER a child commences.

ENROLMENT FEES: 
Are payable 4 weeks in advance (including public holidays):

Please call the office on (02) 9533 2781 for exact amount.

Children’s bookings can only be accepted on receipt of an enrolment form duly signed by parent or guardian, and accompanied by the listing fee.
OTHER FEES
There is an annual $120 Activity fee which covers shows/activities that come to the centre.

NSW MONTESSORI MEMBERSHIP  (*At present we do not apply this fee, but we retain the right to renew this membership at the centre’s discretion)
DISCOUNTS
A discount applies while more than 1 child is in attendance at the centre. This discount applies to the fees of the 2nd child, and varies depending on their enrolment status. See the following schedule:

If the 2nd Child Is In The O-3 Centre:

8% discount applies if the 2nd child is booked in for 2 days per week.
10% discount applies if the 2nd child is booked in for 3 days per week.
12% discount applies if the 2nd child is booked in for 4 days per week.
15% discount applies if the 2nd child is booked in for 5 days per week.

If The 2nd Child Is In The 3-6 Centre: As above for 3,4, & 5 days
WITHDRAWAL
One full school months’ notice in writing is required when withdrawing children from the centre. Fees are charged for this month.

(Please note: Child Care Benefit cannot be claimed for any period that a child does not attend the centre. Thus if a child does not attend during the period that notice has been given, then full fees will need to be paid).

Our licensed hours are from 7.00 am – 6.00 pm daily

The centre operates for 52 weeks per year, but closes on Public Holidays, Staff Inservice days =3 days/yr (see Pupil Free Days), Special events at Christmas & Easter =2 days/yr. Fees apply to these days including parent holidays and sick days.

In order to keep school fees to a minimum there are no discounts provided for time when children are away on holidays.

Children can commence any time up to 3 years of age (3 ½ at the latest). Children are rarely permitted entry into a Montessori school after turning 4 years of age.

Montessori children adjust well to traditional environments. Obviously, how well a child adjusts would greatly depend on the quality of school he enters. However, a child will be better equipped because of the desire to learn that has been developing throughout their Montessori training.,

Montessori children appear to adjust readily to new classroom situations. Studies have shown that children who have had 2 or more years of Montessori experience “show a high degree of initiative in learning situations with a positive attitude toward learning, independence, and respect for the rights of others to work without interruption”.

Parents also have an influence on their child’s adjustment to the school situation. They should observe the new school and then prepare their child for the changes noticed (e.g. desks, teacher in front of the class, teacher planned schedule, etc.) An explanation that the time has come for a change that includes new and different ways of doing things will suffice. Whatever atmosphere they find at school, they can still come home to a place where his active participation in everything from housekeeping to holiday preparations is provided for. Their school curriculum can now motivate family research projects and excursions.

Even though there may be some adjustments to make in certain areas (such as not being able to choose their own work or to help each other), this is a small disadvantage compared to the tremendous advantages of a Montessori pre-school education.

The Montessori Method has been used successfully with children between the ages of 0 to 18 from all social-economic environments and with those in regular classes as well as the gifted, retarded, emotionally disturbed, and the physically handicapped. Due to Montessori’s individual approach, it is particularly suited to state education where children of many backgrounds are grouped together. It is also appropriate for classes in which the pupil/teacher ratio is high because children learn at an early age to work independently.

In the Montessori classroom at any level the child is confronted with an orderly environment, containing a variety of concrete activities that in many cases are self-correcting. These activities progress steadily from simple to complex, and from concrete to abstract.

Children at most Montessori schools attend for 3 hours every day in order to fully participate in all facets of a wide and rounded school life. They do this to become community members rather than ‘visitors’, and to achieve continuity in their work and that of the class, as well as the greatest opportunity to experience the full range of experiences that a Montessori class offers. As our centre is a Long Day Care centre, the children can be here for up to 9 ½ hours every day, thus we have found that a minimum of 3 days in our Pre-school environment successfully meets these needs.