Enrolment Terms and Conditions

Enrolment Terms and Conditions for Montessori Academy Group Pty Ltd and its related entities

To help ensure a clear and consistent partnership with families, the following Standard Terms and Conditions apply to all Montessori Academy centres. They cover important information about centre operations, fees, enrolment and attendance requirements, CCS obligations, and policies that support children’s safety and wellbeing. Please read these carefully before your child starts.

  1. Hours of Operation: The service operates during the published operating hours of your enrolled centre on weekdays and operates for 50–51 weeks of the year, depending on end-of-year public holidays. The centre is closed on weekends, public holidays, and for approximately one (1) week over the Christmas/New Year period.
  2. Fees: Fees vary by centre and age group and are provided to families at enrolment. Fees and eligible subsidies are applied at the fixed daily rate across the service’s hours of operation. All fees are subject to change at our discretion, with notice provided in accordance with regulatory requirements. Fee increases will apply to all enrolled families from the effective date stated in the notice, regardless of enrolment commencement date.
  3. Bond: Once a child’s place at the service is confirmed, a bond is payable per family in the amount advised by the enrolled centre and must be paid within the timeframe specified in the offer of enrolment. The bond will be refunded within 4–6 weeks from the child’s last day of attendance, provided that all access passes and centre property have been returned in good condition and no outstanding fees or expenses are owed. Failure to provide the required notice period to postpone or cancel enrolment, including prior to the agreed start date, may result in forfeiture of the bond and any applicable enrolment fees.
  4. Payment: Fee payments can only be made via direct debit from your nominated cheque or savings account or by credit card. Fees are debited from your nominated account two weeks in arrears.
  5. Fees Payable: Fees are payable for family vacations/holidays, public holidays, and sick/absent days. Fees are not charged over the Christmas/New Year break when the centre is closed. There are no make-up days for a child’s absence.
  6. Long Absences: If your child is absent for more than ten business days without written notice to the Centre Manager, they will be classified as withdrawn, and the notice period will apply from the tenth absence day.
  7. Make-Up Days: Montessori Academy does not allow make-up days.
  8. Late Payment and Dishonour Fees: Montessori Academy reserves the right to charge a Late Tuition Fee and also charges a $25 administration fee for each dishonoured payment. Montessori Academy reserves the right to suspend care or terminate enrolment if fees remain unpaid after reasonable notice has been provided.
  9. Child Care Subsidy: The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is available to all entitled families who are registered with Centrelink. Montessori Academy cannot advise families on the benefit they will receive.
  10. Attendance on the First and Last Day: Under the CCS rules, children must attend on their first and last day of enrolment in order to receive the subsidy.
  11. CCS and Absence Days: Children are entitled to 42 Initial Absence Days. Absence Days can be used up to seven (7) days before your first day or up to seven (7) days after their last day of attendance in the event of a CCS-approved reason (e.g. sickness, incorrectly ceased enrolment, or family tragedy).
  12. CCS and Overseas Travel: If you travel overseas for a short term while paying for childcare in Australia, you will receive the subsidy for up to six (6) weeks. Where your overseas travel exceeds six (6) weeks, CCS payments will cease, and you will be liable to pay full fees for the entire period of absence.
  13. CCS and Long Absences: If your child does not attend the centre for fourteen (14) consecutive weeks (altogether and regardless of travel arrangements), Centrelink will automatically cancel your enrolment, and you will be liable to pay full fees for the entire period of absence.
  14. CCS Responsibilities: It is the CCS claiming guardian’s responsibility to meet CCS requirements and stay informed about the latest rules to receive subsidy benefits. Any gap fees, reductions, or cessation of CCS are the responsibility of the family, and full fees remain payable in accordance with the Fee Schedule. For more information, please see the Services Australia website: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy.
  15. Sign In and Sign Out: Each day, parents or an authorised person are required to sign their child in and complete the sign-in form, which requires details of the drop-off time, expected pick-up time, and the contact phone number for the day. The child must also be signed out, giving the actual time of collection. These records are used for attendance checks by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment. It is a legal requirement that sign-in and sign-out sheets are completed correctly daily. Your entitlements may be cancelled if you do not comply with these requirements.
  16. Late Collection Fee: Children who are collected after closing time will be charged $1.50 for every minute the family member/authorised person is late to collect the child. Please pay this amount directly to the staff member at the centre when collecting your child. If this is not possible, the late fee will be added to your account.
  17. Application Fee: We require a $200.00 Application Fee to be paid when the Enrolment Form is submitted. This Application Fee must be paid once the child’s start date has been confirmed. This is a one-off, non-refundable fee. Additional children from the same family incur an Application Fee of $50.
  18. Waitlist Fee: If the child is being placed on the Waiting List, a non-refundable fee of $50.00 needs to be paid immediately. Once the child’s start date has been confirmed, this $50.00 payment will be applied to the Application Fee, and the remaining $150.00 can be paid upon enrolment.
  19. Withdrawal Notice: Parents or guardians are required to provide a minimum of four (4) weeks’ notice to modify or cancel their child’s enrolment. This request must be submitted in writing to the Centre Manager or Family Care Team member. If your child departs the centre prior to the notice period expiring or does not attend on their last day of enrolment, they will not be eligible for CCS payments. Please refer to point 10 about Child Care Subsidy for end-of-enrolment obligations required to receive CCS.
  20. Withdrawal Between November 1st and December 31st: If you wish to alter or cancel your child’s enrolment between November 1st and December 31st, we require eight (8) weeks’ written notice. If notice is given during this period, childcare fees will still be due until the 31st of January the following year, or until the 8-week notice period ends, whichever comes first. Your child may continue attending during this notice period and must attend their final day of care to receive CCS. The standard four (4) week notice period applies from January 1st.
  21. Temporary Closure or Reduced Operations: Montessori Academy may be required to close the service or reduce operating capacity due to emergencies, government directions, health risks, building, maintenance or utility issues, or circumstances beyond our control. Where this occurs, families will be notified as soon as practicable. Fee charging during such periods will be managed in accordance with regulatory and funding requirements.
  22. Government Funding Programs: Government funding, including but not limited to Start Strong and Kindergarten Funding Programs and subsidies, are subject to eligibility and may only be claimed at one approved service at a time. Where eligible, Montessori Academy may claim applicable funding on behalf of your child while enrolled in an eligible program. Families must provide accurate information required to assess eligibility. Montessori Academy is not responsible for loss of funding due to ineligibility, policy changes, or incorrect or incomplete information provided by families.
  23. Reducing Enrolment Days: Families must provide a minimum of four (4) weeks’ notice in writing if you wish to reduce your child’s days. If notice is provided after November 1st, childcare fees must be paid until the end of January the following year or until the 8-week notice period lapses – whichever occurs first, with your child able to attend during this time.
  24. Changes to Enrolment Days: All changes to enrolled days are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
  25. Attendance Days: The minimum number of days that a child must attend the centre is three (3) days per week to support continuity of learning and participation in the Montessori Education Program. These days must include either a Monday or a Friday. Other arrangements may only be considered with the express approval of the Centre Manager or Montessori Academy Leadership Team.
  26. Settling-in Period: To support a smooth and positive transition to the service, we ask that families are available to collect their child earlier than usual during the first week of attendance. This helps children become familiar with their new routine, settle confidently, and feel secure as they build trust in their new learning environment.
  27. Immunisation: Immunisation requirements vary by state and territory legislation. In NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and TAS, children must meet government immunisation requirements or hold an approved exemption to enrol. In ACT, WA and NT, immunisation is strongly recommended, with different enrolment rules applying. Families must comply with the legislation relevant to the service location and provide documented evidence where required (such as a current AIR Immunisation History Statement or approved exemption record). If a child is not immunised in accordance with local public health requirements, families agree to withdraw their child during any declared outbreak of a notifiable infectious disease for the period advised by health authorities. Fees will continue to apply during this time.

    State Requirements:
    – Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Families must provide information regarding children’s immunisation schedule upon enrolment.  However, children do not need to be fully immunised to attend early childhood education and care services.
    – New South Wales (NSW): Children must be fully immunised to attend early childhood education and care services. A current Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) must be provided to services.
    – Victoria (VIC): Children must be fully immunised to attend early childhood education and care services. A current Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) must be provided to services.
  28. Medical Consent: If you or an authorised person are unable to be contacted in the event of an emergency, illness, or accident concerning your child, you consent to the Approved Provider, Nominated Supervisor/Centre Manager, or educator seeking medical, dental, hospital, or ambulance treatment necessary to care for your child. This includes transportation by an ambulance. You agree to accept full liability for medical, dental, hospital, ambulance, and/or associated costs.
  29. Allergies: I agree to provide staff with relevant and up-to-date information about my child’s medical condition, treatment, and action plan. I agree to complete a risk minimisation and communication plan during my child’s orientation visit to the service. I give permission for centre staff to display in a prominent location my child’s allergy needs and medical conditions action plan in the service, in order for staff to carry out immediate first aid to my child when required.
  30. Administering Medicine: Centre staff will only administer prescribed medicine in accordance with the dosage instructions on the container. I give permission to Montessori Academy staff to administer paracetamol to my child in accordance with the Medication Policy of Montessori Academy.
  31. Sun Protection: I agree to pack a sun-safe hat for my child each day. I give permission for centre staff to apply SPF 30+ sunscreen to my child’s skin at regular intervals during the day.
  32. Allergy Aware Service: Montessori Academy does not allow nut, nut-based foods, or foods that have been processed/manufactured using the same equipment that processes nuts, to be brought into the centre. This is to protect children, staff, and visitors who may have nut allergies. Families must also wash their child’s hands and their own upon arrival at the centre in case they have eaten or touched a nut-based product.
  33. Birthdays/Celebrations: Families wishing to celebrate birthdays with cakes should advise the centre staff in advance and only provide purchased ‘ready-made’ cupcakes with labels and a full ingredient list intact. These cupcakes can be purchased from major supermarkets. We cannot accept homemade cupcakes due to allergy concerns. Alternatively, you can prepare a fruit platter.
  34. Movement Inside and Around the Centre Perimeter: In accordance with the Education and Care Services National Regulations, including Regulations 160 (Emergency and Evacuation Procedures) and 161 (Authority to Take a Child Outside the Education and Care Service Premises), I authorise the service’s educators and staff to escort and supervise my child within the service premises and on and around the service perimeter where reasonably necessary. This authorisation expressly includes escorting my child for the purposes of emergency responses, evacuations, and evacuation drills, including movement to the service’s designated emergency assembly area or to any other location determined by the service to be safe in accordance with its Emergency and Evacuation Procedures.
  35. Insurance: I understand that my child/children are not insured by Montessori Academy for any accidental injuries that may be sustained while at the service. Families may take out their own insurance for their child by making a direct application to an insurance company of their choice.
  36. Privacy Policy: I confirm I have read and agree to the terms of Montessori Academy’s Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information in order for the services to be provided and in accordance with the purposes set out in the Privacy Policy.
  37. CCTV System: I give consent for my child to be recorded by video camera or similar optical recording devices (CCTV System). I further acknowledge and agree that the CCTV System will be used for:
    • a. Promoting the health and safety of the children at the centre;
    • b. Assisting in the prevention, investigation and management of incidents, injuries or allegations of misconduct; and
    • c. Support quality improvement, staff training and other safety-related purposes, including but not limited to via integration with technological upgrades such as AI-powered child safety intelligence systems.
    • I further acknowledge that:
    • a. Cameras are not placed in or be able to view any of the following locations: Toilets, Change rooms, Bathrooms and showers;
    • b. Recorded images are held for a period of 2 to 4 weeks unless a copy is made for the purpose of an ongoing investigation, performance management issue, or to comply with a relevant law or direction from a government authority. Thereafter, such footage will be overridden;
    • c. Systems used to access images and recordings are password protected and access is only provided to Montessori Academy Directors, the COO, authorised members of the Senior Management Team and the Nominated Supervisor/Centre Manager or Responsible Person for the relevant centre.
  38. Protection Needs/Parental/Court Orders: The service cannot deny access to a natural parent unless there is a Parental/Court Order. Please ensure the centre has a copy of the current Parental/Court Order (if this is applicable to your child). Children attending the centre can have various protection needs (e.g., parental arrangements or Community Services arrangements). Therefore, it is imperative that all staff at the centre are informed of the particular protection needs of children in their care.
  39. Child Protection: Centre Managers and Educators are mandatory reporters and are legally obliged to report suspected child abuse or child sexual assault to Community Services without notification to the parent(s). This centre has a specified policy and a set procedure aimed at protecting children.
  40. Photography of My Child: I give permission for my child to be photographed whilst at the centre for the purpose of developmental documentation. I understand that photographs will not be released to outside agencies or used for promotional purposes without my written authority.
  41. Parent Conduct: I understand that my child’s enrolment at Montessori Academy may be terminated and that I will be required to pay full fees for the appropriate notice period if I:
    • a. Fail to leave my child at the service with an Educator on duty;
    • b. Swear, raise my voice, threaten, act aggressively, or speak rudely to children, staff, or other families at the service;
    • c. Reveal confidential information or correspondence about a child, staff member, or family at the service.
  42. Parent Conduct: Enrolment may be terminated due to inappropriate conduct.
  43. Transportation: Montessori Academy Child Care Services do not transport children nor will they arrange transportation for any child on behalf of our services.
  44. General Information & Policies: I acknowledge that I have received and read the Terms and Conditions in relation to the centre and agree to abide by the information and centre policies as stated therein. I acknowledge that these Terms and Conditions may be updated from time to time by Montessori Academy at its absolute discretion. Updates will take effect 28 days after Montessori Academy provides notice of the update, unless I choose to end your child’s enrolment in compliance with these Terms and Conditions. The most current version will always be available at https://montessoriacademy.com.au/enrolment-terms-and-conditions/ and will replace all previous versions. Continued enrolment or attendance after updates take effect confirms my acceptance of the latest Terms and Conditions.

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