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.
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.
Fees: Fees vary by centre and age group and are published on the Montessori Academy website and/or 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.
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.
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.
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.
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is absent for more than ten business days without written notice to the Centre Manager, they will be classified as withdrawn, and the notice period will apply from the tenth absence day.
Make-Up Days: Montessori Academy does not allow make-up days.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 October 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.
Changes to Enrolment Days: All changes to enrolled days are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
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.
Setting-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.
Immunisation: Parents/Guardians must provide one of the following documents to the Centre Manager prior to commencement:
– Current AIR Immunisation History Statement
– Current AIR Immunisation History Form
– Current AIR Medical Exemption Form
As of January 2018, children who are unvaccinated due to their parents’ conscientious objection can no longer be enrolled in childcare.
If my child is not immunised, I agree to withdraw my child from this preschool if there is an outbreak of a notifiable infectious disease as outlined in the Public Health Amendment Act 1992 for the duration of the outbreak, and fees will still be paid.
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, 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.
Allergies: I agree to provide staff with relevant and up-to-date information about my child’s allergies, treatment, and action plan. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Movement Inside and Around the Centre Perimeter: I give permission for educators and staff to escort my child to emergency assembly points outside the service and around the perimeter of the centre as required.
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.
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.
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 or responsible person for the relevant centre.
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.
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.
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.
Extreme Behaviour: I understand that if my child breaches the Extreme Behaviour Policy (detailed in Montessori Academy’s Policies), my child’s place at Montessori Academy may be terminated.
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.
Transportation: Montessori Academy Child Care Services do not transport children nor will they arrange transportation for any child on behalf of our services.
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. The current Terms and Conditions published on our website montessoriacademy.com.au/enrolment-terms-and-conditions/ supersede all previous versions. Continued enrolment or attendance constitutes acceptance of the current Terms and Conditions, and families are responsible for reviewing updates. I/We understand and agree to satisfy and uphold Montessori Academy Pty Ltd’s Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.
Changes to the Enrolment Terms and Conditions
Montessori Academy Group may make amendments to the Enrolment Terms and Conditions at any time. Enrolled families will be notified when an update has been made to the Enrolment Terms and Conditions. The updated version will be effective immediately upon our posting of it on our website homepage at https://montessoriacademy.com.au. Your continued enrolment, attendance, or use of our services constitutes acceptance of the latest Enrolment Terms and Conditions.
Contacting us
If you have any questions about the Enrolment Terms and Conditions, and would like further information, please contact us by any of the following means during business hours Monday to Friday.
Call: 1300 000 162
Post: Attn: Family Feedback
Montessori Academy Group Pty Ltd
60 – 70 Parramatta Road
Summer Hill NSW 2130
AUSTRALIA
E-mail: familyfeedback@montessoriacademy.com.au
Last updated: 8th January 2026