Fees at St Ives Preschool & Long Day Care.
Two simple programs covering education, care and afternoon tea, with families providing morning tea and lunch. Most families pay much less than the full daily fee once Child Care Subsidy is applied.
St Ives Chase Kindergarten is a CCS-approved preschool and long day care for children aged 2.5 to 6 years, set in a quiet residential pocket of St Ives Chase under mature gum trees. The daily fee covers the full education program, sunscreen, a bucket hat, free nappies for children under 3, and afternoon tea (for long day care children). Children bring their own morning tea and lunch from home, plus a change of clothes, a comforter if your child uses one, and a labelled water bottle.
Daily fees, by program
We offer two enrolment options for children aged 2.5 to 6 years.
| Program | Hours | Daily fee |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool2.5 to 6 years | 9am to 3pm | $135per day |
| Long Day Care2.5 to 6 years | 7am to 6pm | $155per day |
The centre is open Monday to Friday, 50 weeks of the year. We close for NSW public holidays and two weeks over Christmas and New Year.
What's included in the daily fee
The daily fee includes the centre-provided items below; families provide morning tea and lunch.
The Reggio-inspired education program aligned to the Early Years Learning Framework
Sunscreen applied throughout the day
A bucket hat for your child while they are with us
Afternoon tea provided by the centre for long day care children
Daily physical activity as part of our outdoor program
Daily photos and updates via the OWNA app
Settling-in support for new starters
Some visiting shows and activities (called incursions) and special events across the year (others are charged separately and opt-in)
Generous outdoor classroom under the gum trees
Free nappies for children under 3
Children at St Ives bring their own morning tea and lunch in a labelled lunchbox. Afternoon tea is provided by the centre for long day care children. We ask families to keep food nut-free as the centre is nut-aware.
Child Care Subsidy and what you actually pay
St Ives Chase Kindergarten is a CCS-approved service. Most families pay much less than the full daily fee once their subsidy is applied.
The 3 Day Guarantee (from 5 January 2026): CCS-eligible families now get at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (about 3 days per week), regardless of work or study activity. Some families can access up to 100 hours per fortnight: families who work or study more hours, families with an approved exemption, or families with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child in care. Your subsidy percentage still depends on your family income and the age of your child. The activity test is the government's check of how many hours you work or study. It only matters if you want more than 72 hours a fortnight.
For a quick estimate of what you'd actually pay out-of-pocket at St Ives, use our calculator on the homepage:
This is an estimate only. Centrelink will give you your exact rate after you lodge a claim through myGov.
Fees on public holidays and absent days
Fees are charged for all enrolled days, including public holidays and any day your child is absent. This is the standard arrangement for long day care services in Australia and is the basis on which the Child Care Subsidy is calculated. CCS continues to apply to absences up to a yearly cap set by the Department of Education.
Enrolment deposit
A holding deposit of $500 is payable when you accept an enrolment offer. It is applied to your final invoice when you leave the centre, provided four weeks' written notice has been given. The deposit is fully refundable if you give the required notice.
Joining the waitlist is free.
Vacancies and how to enrol
Places fill quickly, especially on the most popular days. The most accurate way to find out about availability for your child's age and start date is to call us directly:
Call 02 9449 8829 or email director@stiveschase.nsw.edu.au. We'll talk through your situation, current vacancies, and exactly what your out-of-pocket cost would be.
Want exact numbers for your family?
Book a tour and we'll work through your specific CCS rate, days, and total cost together.
Book a tour Use the CCS calculator