Fee increases at ABC Childcare

Jack's only in an afternoon a week at the moment (12.30-5.30) and we pay $22 ($7ish after WINZ subsidy). With the new structure he's in 9-3 (so an extra hour) for the same price. So we are better off.

It seems strange to me really. The fees at our centre haven't actually gone up for full time or daily rates. But I do think that casual rates for 2 year olds have gone up, and also part time rates for 3-4 year olds (its cheaper to put in full time).

I must say though that that family is pretty lucky to have only had to pay such a little amount for so long.

When I go back to work after #2 we will be paying for 2 kids to be in fulltime without subsidies so I definitely wouldn't be complaining about it at all. I think we're all lucky to qualify for some sort of subsidy if you fall under the threshold. Just m2c anyway.

agree totally

yeah i had to do a double take on what they were paying aswell..

i know when we have our first we wont probably get anything or any subsidies and when we have another one will probably have both in day care

James goes to ABC in Chch our fees have gone up $15 a week so wasn't really that worried about it but $35 dollars is a big difference. Not to sure how the fee srtucture works for the fee 20hrs as haven't needed to look at it at the moment just thought that the WINZ would still subsidise for the extra hours over the 20 free hours I hope thhat is right and I wasn't being niave.

Don't worry CuriousG i thought the exact same thing too.

I get a subsidy - what fustrates me is - when i do casual hours I don't get subsidy for it BUT it effects my subsidy cause I earn more.... I know seems a little petty considering people are worse off than us.

I have been quoted $220.00 per week for full time care when bub will be 1 and I go back to work. I am not too sure how the childcare subsidies go but should I be paying less if I can??

I will have to go to WINZ and get them to talk me through it.

I have had Andrew in a daycare that offered the 20 hours free, but we were given the option to keep on the WINZ subsidy and not take up the 20 hours free. So as far as I knew you don't have to take the 20 hours free up if you don't want to.

At our ABC, DH learned yesterday from talking with other parents, that a lot of them are looking to remove their kids. There is another place that is in Raumati that also does the 20 free hours and is cheaper. Their waiting list is now HUGE!

We thought about moving DD, but you know, she LOVES it there, has some great friends and its not the staff who make the decisions. We are going to have to suck it up and go with it. At least we are in a position that we can afford it but still - I pity those who are going to struggle even more.

$35 increase per week - thats a massive increase!

Maybe you could waitlist your child at another place - you may not get in anyway but at least if it comes up you can them decide.

We have a new ABC opening on our road. Would have been very handy but decided against it due to them not doing the 20 free hours and had heard about the financial troubles. They were supposed to open in January, then June and now its supposed to be September - shocking for those who had their childrens booked in!

What mummy_becks said...if you don't want to have 20 hours free you can choose not to and keep your subsidy instead if you're better off that way. Maybe I read the article wrong but they didn't seem to realise they have that option?

Personally I wouldn't want to go with a chain like ABC anyway - a big company like that is too much about profit for my liking. Would rather use a community non-profit centre, then you know all the money is going into good staff and more stuff for the kids.