Fees, Child Care Subsidy & Start Strong
Most families do not pay a centre's advertised daily fee. You pay the gap between that fee and your Child Care Subsidy, and in NSW, Start Strong reduces preschool fees further. Families earning up to $88,520 receive the maximum 90% subsidy, and since 5 January 2026 every eligible family is guaranteed 3 days a week of subsidised care.
Updated 2026-09-02
What will I actually pay?
Three things decide your out-of-pocket cost: the centre's daily fee, your Child Care Subsidy percentage, and — for 3 to 5 year-olds in NSW — Start Strong fee relief.
- The daily fee. Ours run from $85 to $150 a day depending on the centre and your child's age — the full schedule is below.
- Child Care Subsidy. Paid directly to the service. You pay the remaining gap.
- Start Strong. For eligible 3 to 5 year-olds, applied directly to your fees on top of CCS.
Our daily fees
These are our current fees before any subsidy. The right-hand column is what a family receiving the maximum 90% Child Care Subsidy would pay out of pocket — most families fall somewhere between that figure and the full fee.
Westmead — Long day care
| Age group | Daily fee | You pay at the maximum CCS rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2 years | $150 a day | $15.00 a day |
| 2 – 5 years | $85 a day | $8.50 a day |
| After school care | $35 per session | Reduced by CCS — call us |
Northmead — Preschool
| Age group | Daily fee | You pay at the maximum CCS rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3 – 5 years | $125 a day | $12.50 a day |
Child Care Subsidy is capped at $15.19 an hour for centre based day care, child below school age. Every one of our session fees works out below that cap, so the subsidy applies to the whole fee rather than being clipped at the top.
For 3 to 5 year-olds, Start Strong comes off on top of this again — up to $2,563 a year for children aged 4 and above and $769 for 3 year-olds. Before school care, vacation care and Northmead outside-school-hours care are quoted on request: call us on (02) 9635 6149.
Source: Jolly Frog Kindergarten's own current fee schedule, verified 2026-09-02. Fees are reviewed periodically — we will confirm the current rate when you enquire.
How much Child Care Subsidy will I get?
Child Care Subsidy is a federal payment. Your percentage depends on your family income:
| Maximum subsidy | 90% for family income up to $88,520 |
|---|---|
| Above that | Reduces by 1% for every $5,000 of family income above the threshold |
| Subsidy ends at | $538,520 |
| Hourly rate cap | $15.19 (centre based day care, child below school age) |
Source: Services Australia, 2026–27 rates, applying from 6 July 2026.
The 3 Day Guarantee
From 5 January 2026, every family eligible for Child Care Subsidy is guaranteed at least 72 hours a fortnight of subsidised care — 3 days a week — no matter how much work, study or volunteering they do. It replaced the CCS activity test.
If your family previously received 0, 24 or 36 subsidised hours because of the activity test, you now receive at least 72. Some families can access 100 hours a fortnight, including those:
- caring for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child
- more than 48 hours a fortnight of recognised activity
- an exemption or exceptional circumstances
- receiving Additional Child Care Subsidy (child wellbeing, temporary financial hardship or grandparent)
NSW Start Strong fee relief in 2026
Start Strong is a NSW payment that reduces preschool fees for 3 to 5 year-olds. There are two rates, and which one applies depends on the service rather than the family.
| Child's age | Maximum rate | Standard rate |
|---|---|---|
| 4 and above | up to $2,563 a year | up to $1,783 a year |
| 3 year-olds | up to $769 a year | up to $423 a year |
The maximum rate applies to services in areas of socio-economic disadvantage, regional and remote services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. All other children receive the standard rate. The amount is spread across the year and applied directly to your fees as a weekly reduction.
Start Strong applies to our Northmead preschool and to 3 to 5 year-olds at our Westmead centre. Call us to confirm the rate that applies to your child.
Source: NSW Department of Education, verified 2026-08-25.
Common questions about fees
- How much is child care in Westmead and Northmead?
- At Jolly Frog Westmead, long day care is $150 a day for 0 to 2 year-olds and $85 a day for 2 to 5 year-olds, 8am – 6pm. Preschool at our Northmead centre is $125 a day, 8am – 5pm. Those are the fees before subsidy. What you actually pay is the gap between the daily fee and your Child Care Subsidy — a family on the maximum 90% rate pays $8.50 a day for a 2 to 5 year-old at Westmead — and NSW Start Strong reduces preschool fees further again.
- How much Child Care Subsidy will I get?
- Families earning up to $88,520 receive the maximum 90% subsidy. Above that the rate tapers by 1% for every $5,000 of family income above the threshold, ending at $538,520. The subsidy is capped at $15.19 an hour for centre based day care, child below school age, and is paid directly to the service, so you pay only the gap.
- What is the 3 Day Guarantee?
- From 5 January 2026, every family eligible for Child Care Subsidy is guaranteed at least 72 hours a fortnight of subsidised care — 3 days a week — regardless of how much work, study or volunteering they do. It replaced the CCS activity test. Families who previously received 0, 24 or 36 hours because of the activity test now receive at least 72.
- How much is NSW Start Strong worth in 2026?
- In 2026, Start Strong fee relief in long day care is worth up to $2,563 a year for children aged 4 and above and up to $769 for 3-year-olds at the maximum rate, or up to $1,783 and $423 at the standard rate. The maximum rate applies to services in areas of socio-economic disadvantage, regional and remote services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. It is applied directly to your fees.
- Can I use both Child Care Subsidy and Start Strong?
- Yes. Child Care Subsidy is a federal payment and NSW Start Strong is a state fee-relief payment, and eligible families receive both. Start Strong is applied to the fees remaining after Child Care Subsidy.
- What do I need to do before my child starts?
- Confirm your Child Care Subsidy through myGov before your child’s first day. Subsidy cannot be backdated indefinitely, so families who start care before confirming their CCS can be charged the full fee for that period.
Get a fee estimate for your family
Tell us your child's age and the days you need, and we will send you our current daily fee and an estimate of what you would actually pay after subsidy.
Subsidy figures on this page are current government rates as at 2026-09-02 and are provided as general information. Your entitlement depends on your circumstances — confirm it with Services Australia and the NSW Department of Education.