New Zealand Child Care Benefits

Whangaparaoa, one of the largest suburbs in Auckland, New Zealand, is quite possibly the most multicultural area in all of Australasia. With communities drawn from across the globe, this beautiful suburb prides itself on being a cultural melting pot. Though the population is quite diverse, daycare centres in Whangaparaoa are still predominantly attended by Western families. This is largely due to cost, as infant care in particular has become more expensive than ever.

If you're considering a move to New Zealand, this article will tell you everything you need to know about Daycare Whangaparaoa . We've collated the most important information regarding the subject so you can get a general feel for things in New Zealand.

Top Things To Note

In order to secure good quality care for your child, you'll want to take the following into consideration:

• The centre's approach to child care,
• Whether they are licensed or not (If they are not licensed, you're likely to encounter problems with government regulations),
• How old are their carers (Experience counts),
• What is their enrolment policy (Enrolment policies determine how you'll be notified of the centre's terms and conditions),
• How is payment handled (Payment options determine how you'll pay for your child's care, whether in cash or on a card),
• What are their hours of operation (Hours of operation determine whether or not you can access their services),
• How much do they charge (Cost determines whether or not you can pay for child care), and
• Whether they are insured or not (Insurance policies determine the extent of their liability in case of accident or illness).

Legal Aspects

All New Zealanders are legally required to have child care benefits as part of their KiwiSaver scheme. This covers 80% of the cost of child care up to a maximum of $500 per month. For those who are unable to work due to a disability, the government will pick up the tab for the remaining 20%. Those who have paid into the scheme for the previous three years can also apply for the Baby Bonus, which provides $1500 per child under the age of one and $2000 per child between the ages of one and three. This is on top of the government-provided benefits mentioned above.

Additional Costs

Aside from the costs covered by the government, there are additional costs that you'll need to consider. This includes:

• Travel to and from school (If your work schedule allows, consider keeping your child in daycare full-time),
• Additional child care costs if they are not covered by the New Zealand government (These are sometimes called ‘gap' benefits and can help with unexpected expenses such as dental treatments and vaccinations),
• Food costs (Food costs determine how much a centre budget will be for food served to the children),
• Additional clothing costs (Clothing costs determine whether or not you'll need to provide your child's daily wear in addition to the clothes they're wearing at the time of enrolment),
• Hospital costs (Hospital costs determine whether or not you'll need to pay for medical services provided to your child while in the centre), and
• Transport costs (Transport costs determine whether or not you'll need to pay for your own transportation to and from school).

Features

Apart from the basic costs discussed thus far, you'll want to consider the following features when choosing a daycare centre:

• Does it offer a play space (For younger children),
• An indoor/outdoor space (For those hot summer days),
• A garden (For older children who are more likely to be entertained by plants than toys,
• An opportunity to socialise with other families (For those who are looking to form a strong connections with others while their children are participating in daycare), and
• Seek out the centres that are licensed to provide therapeutic services (Therapeutic services allow the child to work through their problems in a stress-free environment).

Payment Options

As we've established above, there are a number of costs that you'll need to consider aside from the daily fee. One of these is how you'll pay for your child's care. In order to secure the best possible services for your child, you'll want to explore all of your options and decide which one is the best for your situation. This includes:

• Credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) (These are widely accepted and can be used to make quick and easy payments online or at the checkout counter),
• Direct debit (With a direct debit, you won't need to set up an account with a bank. Once you've been given the go-ahead, all of the payments will be made automatically,
• Cash (Those who prefer to pay in cash can make payments at the centre), and
• KiwiSaver (As we've already discussed, this is a government-provided benefit and covers the cost of most daycare in New Zealand).

Enrolment

As with many other aspects of life in New Zealand, getting enrolled in daycare is straightforward and can be done online. You'll simply need to provide some basic information about yourself along with a few documents to confirm your identity. They'll contact you to schedule an enrolment interview, at which point you can come to a quick decision about whether or not the daycare is right for your child.

Quality And Safety

At the end of the day, you'll want to consider the quality and safety of the care that your child receives. Both of these aspects are vital and can be checked out online before committing to a centre. You should have no problem finding reviews of the centre on websites such as Yelp and Parenting. On the subject of safety, it is vital that the centre you choose is registered with the New Zealand Safety Commission and follows all of their guidelines. This ensures that your child is safe while in the care of others.

Choosing a daycare centre for your child can be both stressful and overwhelming. Just remember to take your time and do your research. In the end, you'll be happy that you made the right choice for your family and your little one. Who knows – maybe one day, you'll even become a regular customer at the same centre!