Creche V 3yo kinder- VIC

[DoubleK]

ive been thinking whether 3yo kinder is worth worrying about? i was having a chat to my mums group yesterday, and 2 of the mums are just going to leave their kiddies in creche (one is currently in for 3 days, the other is in for 1 day) instead of worrying about kinder. im wondering if i should do they same?

so my question is-

what does it cost (roughly) for childcare? would i be better of doing one full day? 2 half days? 2 full days? argh!

also, how does the rebate thingy work? is everyone eligible for that?

all i know about 3yo kinder is that it costs about $800 a year?

[Floweryfields]

The childcare rebate works according to your combined annual income and is decreased from the maximum allowance as the income goes up. To receive the maximum benefit you can earn a combined amount of about $32000 per year then it is gradually reduced as the income increases.
So an example - my centre charges $53/day in the kindy room - a family on maximum benefit will pay about $6.50/day centrelink pays the difference. A family on around 80% CCB will pay around $22ish. Your best bet is to ring centrelink for a percentage, then ring centres and ask for quotes on this percentage.
If you pass the test for the additional Childcare rebate for the part you pay - ie both parents working/studying, etc. - you will get 50% of the gap (the part you have to pay) back each quarter as a lup sum paid into your account.

Ps your 3 year old kinder is through who? $800 is cheap - the C&K kindy here in Qld charges $600/term so $2400/year!

[DoubleK]

thanks ausgirl.. ill give c'link a ring on monday.. i dont really understand the whole thing! lol

im just going off what a friend paid for her DD last year for 3yo kinder!

[Astrid]

I think the cost of 3yo kinder varies from region to region. Down this it costs about the same as occasional care, so about $7 per hour. I also wondered about whether to use 3yo kinder or continue with 1 day per week childcare. We stuck with the day per week childcare. Cost wise it was better value, plus for both DD1's and my sanity we both needed more than a 1/2 day. Also I spoke to a number of people who worked in the childcare/kinder area and they all agreed there was no need for 3yo kinder if the child was in some for of childcare.

[Pandora]

DS1 goes to 3yo kinder and its 220 a term/880 a year for 2 x 2 hours a week
DS1 also goes to creche 1 day a week, and his is $65 a day.

[anney]

Hi, sorry can't comment on costs but my DD was in childcare for 2 days a week from the time she was 18 months until she went to school and she did not do a separate 3 year old or 4 year old kinder program. At the childcare centre they had a kinder teacher in the 4 year old room and she was moved in there as soon as she turned 4 and had 18 months in there before going to school.
3 and 4 year old kinder are sort of about putting some structure into their day and their learning to prepare them for school so it does not really matter where they get it, in my opinion.
good luck

[~Raven~]

From what I went through, I'd recommend a council run kinder over a private creche kinder any time.

Don't choose because of the cost. Ask anyone you come into contact where they sent their kids and why.

[smiles4u]

My DD has been going to 3year old Kinder for nearly 6weeks now and she just absolutely loves it ... Her Kindergarten only has 3year old Kinder 1 day per week for 2.5hours (9 to 11.30am), ... Fees at her Kinder are $110 per term or $198 for half a year

[DoubleK]

thanks heaps girls!