FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is financial assistance from the Australian Government that helps eligible families with the cost of approved childcare. The amount you receive depends on factors such as your family’s income, recognised activity and the amount of childcare you use. CCS is generally paid directly to your childcare service, reducing the amount you need to pay.
From 5 January 2026, all families who are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) can access at least 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care per fortnight for each eligible child. This is commonly referred to as the 3-Day Guarantee.
This means eligible families can receive subsidised care for approximately 3 days per week, regardless of how much they work, study or undertake other recognised activities.
You can apply for CCS through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. Once your CCS has been approved, you will need to provide your Customer Reference Number (CRN) and your child’s CRN to the service so we can confirm your enrolment.
Your child can still commence care while your CCS application is being processed. However, you may initially need to pay the full fee until your CCS entitlement is confirmed. Once approved and backdated where applicable, eligible CCS amounts can be applied to your account.
Your out-of-pocket amount depends on your individual CCS entitlement, the days and hours your child attends, and the centre’s daily fee. We can help you understand how your fees are calculated, but your exact CCS entitlement is determined by Services Australia.
Little Sparkles provides three delicious, home-cooked meals a day along with healthy snacks, as well as nappy, wipes and nappy cream at change times.
Simply contact us to discuss availability. Once a suitable place is confirmed, we will provide you with an enrolment link and guide you through the enrolment process.
Our team will welcome you and your child, help them settle into the room and introduce them to their educators and daily routine. We recommend allowing a little extra time on the first day so your child can settle comfortably.
We recommend bringing:
- A labelled water bottle
- A school bag with change of clothes
- A hat
- Sheets and blankets (if children still sleep)
- Any comfort items your child may need
- Any other items discussed with our educators
- As an optional gesture of kindness and community, we warmly invite families to contribute a piece of fruit to our shared morning and afternoon tea fruit platter.
- Please label your child’s belongings to help prevent items from being misplaced.
Our School Readiness Program is developed in collaboration with early childhood professionals and local schools to help children confidently prepare for their transition to “big school”.
Through child-led and play-based learning, we build key skills such as early literacy, numeracy, independence, social and emotional development, and confidence. We also incorporate children’s interests into meaningful learning experiences—for example, using a child’s interest in dinosaurs to support activities that develop skills such as letter recognition, writing and social awareness.
At Little Sparkles, we celebrate diversity and inclusion every day through our curriculum, cultural celebrations and learning experiences that help children appreciate different cultures, traditions and ways of life.