FAQ

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Answers to common questions about enrolment, fees, routines, and more 

 

Enrolment & Waitlist 

  • You are welcome to add your child to our waitlist from 3 months of age. You will need to provide a copy of their birth certificate, a current immunisation history statement to complete your application online. A waitlist fee of $50.00 applies when you submit your application.

  • We follow the NSW education department priority of access guidelines.

    We give priority to children with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, low-income families, children with a disability and/or additional needs and children with English language needs.

  • A bond deposit of $300 is charged to confirm preschool enrolment. It is held on account until the last term/last year of enrolment, when it is transferred to your account and used towards preschool fees. The bond is usually payable within 7 days of accepting a preschool place, or as advised in your preschool offer.

  • We generally enrol children in classes starting at the beginning of the year, for a calendar year. Vacancies can happen during the year if another child leaves. We refer to our waitlist to fill any vacancies that may arise.

    We sometimes schedule a new class to commence in Term 2 or 3, if it has not already started. Subject to community need.

  • We can operate up to six class groups across our three classroom spaces, Kangaroo, Rosella and Turtle rooms.

  • We offer 3-day or 2-day group options.

    Our 3-day options include:

    Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday/Friday

    Our 2-day options include:

    Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday.

    We do not offer split days, e.g. Tuesday and Thursday.

  • No. We only offer scheduled class groups. We do not offer days. Variable days are more common in long daycare services.

  • We generally start enrolling for next year around June of the current year.

    First, we re-enrol our current attending children.

    Then, we enrol our waitlisted children in the order of the waitlist priorities.

    We recommend joining our waitlist to be considered for a preschool class next year.

Fees & Financial Support 

  • Please refer to our fees and charges section on this website.

  • The NSW Start Strong Fee Relief program is finishing at the end of 2026. It is being replaced by the Universal Preschool Funding program. North Epping Kindergarten will be participating in this new Universal Preschool Funding program.

  • From 2027, The NSW government will fund community preschools via The Universal Preschool Funding (UPF) program. This program aims to maximise enrolment opportunities and affordable access to quality preschool education for children aged 3 and above across NSW.

  • Installment arrangements can be made by contacting the office.

  • No. North Epping Kindergarten is a community preschool funded by the NSW state government. We are not part of the federal CCS long daycare funding arrangements.

Programs & Routine 

  • Children can start arriving at preschool from 8am. Indoor and outdoor activities are set up for the children to explore. Morning tea is available from around 9.30am, when the children are feeling hungry. Group time commences late morning, followed by lunch. After lunch we have a 30-minute indoor quiet/rest time. If a child is tired and asks for rest, a daybed is provided. Indoor/Outdoor play resumes after quiet time for the rest of the day. All children are collected by 3.30pm.

    • Each day your child will need weather appropriate clothing & a spare set in-case of accidents or getting wet with water play.

    • Morning tea and lunch in separate containers.

    • A water bottle they can open and close.

    • If you think your child will need a sleep or rest at preschool, please also bring a set of cot sheets. Ideally in a matching drawstring bag to put on our daybeds.

  • Yes. After lunch we have a quiet time for the children. They can read or play with Lego or listen to music. Children who are tired can ask for a daybed for a sleep. If an afternoon sleep is needed, please bring a set of cot sheets to put on our day beds.

  • Yes. We plan excursions and incursions for the children during the preschool year.

    Recent excursions the children have participated in include:

    • Epping North Public School to hear the school bands perform or have Storytime in the school library.

    • The local community shopping village to purchase ingredients to make fruit smoothies.

    • A walking excursion to the local Lane Cove National Park area to explore nature.

Staffing & Supervision 

  • We have at least 2 educators in each class group. The minimum educator to child ratio is 1:10.

  • Each class group has a University qualified teacher leading the class. They are supported by TAFE or equillivant trained educators.

    All classroom staff participate in regular training and development opportunities. They hold current Emergency First Aid and CPR as well as attend regular child protection training.

    All staff have current Working with Children clearance.

  • Yes. Each class group has the same educators every week. The children will get to know other educators as they explore the preschool environment.

Health, Safety & Wellbeing 

  • If your child is unwell it is best they stay home to recover. Please refer to the preschool handbook for guidelines on when your child may return after illness.

    You can update your child’s attendance online up to the day before attendance. On the day, you can notify us of an absence by calling or emailing us on the day.

  • No. All morning tea/lunch food comes from home. We ask that you separate morning tea in one container and lunch in a different container. Lunches are refrigerated.

    We do not heat/re-heat any food items.

    • All staff are first aid emergency trained, including the use of Epipen/Anapen.

    • Children with allergies need to provide preschool with their medical management plans and any prescribed medicines.

    • Educators will discuss the child’s specific needs with the parents and agree on risk management strategies to manage risks at preschool.

    • We are a nut aware preschool and ask ALL families to not bring nuts or food items where nuts are an ingredient.

    • Other food allergies may also necessitate asking families to not bring those foods to preschool as well. We will advise families of any specific foods to avoid in a class group where necessary.

  • We prioritise children safety and wellbeing in all decisions and actions we take at preschool.

    We follow the national principals for child safe organisations and embed these into our policies and procedures to ensure our children and young people are safe, respected, and empowered.

  • Yes. where we have permission to do so. If a child does not want their photo taken we respect their decision.

    Parents also consent to photo’s being taken and how those photos are used.

    Photos taken are used/displayed in the classroom, included in a newsletter emailed/sent to families though secure APPs or in children’s journal for parents to follow their child’s activities and learnings.

    We do not publish any photos on social media or visible in public spaces, such as websites without formal parental consent.

    Only devices managed by North Epping Kindergarten are used by staff at preschool.

Parental Involvement 

  • Parents are welcome to visit during the preschool day.

    We also ask for parent help for various activities such as excursions, library book borrowing, book club.

    If you have a skill or talent you would like to share with the children at preschool, please talk to your class educators to look at options to include this in our planned activities. Children love it when their parents get involved at preschool.

    • At our annual general meeting (AGM), held in mid-late February, we ask for volunteers for our parent management committee.

    • Members in attendance at the AGM vote to elect the committee members.

    • If you are interested in joining our parent management committee, please let our office team know.

General 

    • Children must have had their 3rd birthday before they can start at preschool with us.

    • By law, all children must be in compulsory schooling by their 6th birthday.

    • We may offer a child a class position before their 3rd birthday, but they are not able to start attending until they have turned 3.

  • No. We are closed all NSW school holiday periods and public holidays. We use the NSW education (Eastern) calendar for our preschool term dates. We do not observe all of the school development days.

    Please refer to the preschool handbook for current preschool term dates.

  • You can login to your xap account at xap.rocks to edit and update your or your child’s enrolment information at any time.

    You can also contact the office via email.

 Still have questions?

Contact us