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Community Kindergarten Assistance DECKAS Grants

Purpose

The Department of Education, Training and the Arts provides recurrent and capital assistance to community kindergartens affiliated with or approved by the Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland (C&K) to supply recognised early education programs for children between the ages of 3.5 - 4.5 years.

Expenditure Guidelines

Assistance is paid to community kindergartens and C&K under the Department of Education Community Kindergarten Assistance Scheme (DECKAS).

Eligibility

To be eligible for assistance community kindergartens must:

offer sessional early childhood education;
enrol children aged between 3.5 and 4.5 years;
be licensed under the Child Care Regulation 2003;
be conducted by a community controlled non-profit organisation (schools or school governing bodies that control the operations or management of a community kindergarten are not eligible for DECKAS funds);
be affiliated with or approved by the Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland;
be approved by the Minister for Education, Training and the Arts;
provide minimum employment conditions that are the same as, or exceed those provided through the Queensland Early Childhood Certified Agreement 2006 as at 13 September 2006; and
not be in receipt of other operational government funding for the kindergarten/preschool service (Indigenous Education Strategic Initiatives Program recipients are excepted).

Recurrent Assistance

Recurrent assistance is provided to community kindergartens to offset staff salary costs in two levels:

Level 1 for centres affiliated with C&K; and
Level 2 for centres approved by but not yet affiliated with C&K

Advisory and Administration Grants

Paid to C&K to set and monitor educational standards within the community kindergarten sector and to assist with the administration costs involved in providing these services and distributing funds on behalf of the Department of Education, Training and the Arts.

Capital Assistance

Available to assist community kindergartens to maintain appropriate building and equipment standards as determined by C&K.

Accountability

Community kindergartens and preschools report to C&K on an annual basis.
C&K provide to the Department of Education, Training and the Arts:

an annual audited Financial Statement by 31 October each year verifying receipt and distribution of funds to community kindergartens for the previous financial year; and
education accountability as stipulated in service agreement between the department and C&K.

Duration of Program

Ongoing

Policy Reference

Departmental Policy and Procedures File 356
The Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland Handbook, 1998
Cabinet submissions 1977, 1981, 1984 and 1989
Child Care Act 2002
Child Care Regulation 2003
Collections Act 1966
Associations Incorporation Act 1981
Education Policy and Procedures Register - FNM-PR-011: Community Kindergartens Department of Education Community Kindergarten Assistance Scheme

Form of Assistance

Cash grant allocation

Payment Details

Payment	During Month of
Administration Grant	March, June, September, December
Advisory Grant	March, June, September, December
Recurrent Level 1 Grant	March, June, September, December
Recurrent Level 2 Grant	March, September
Capital Grant	As required

Allocation of Funds

Recurrent Level 1: for C&K-affiliated centres

Approximately 80% of approved salary costs up to award levels, including superannuation, Locality Allowance (ICL) and holiday leave loading (HLL).

Recurrent Level 2: for approved non-affiliated centres

Maximum payment based on 22.5 contact hours.

C&K Advisory Grant

Approximately 80% of average salary costs (as per level 1) for advisers employed by C&K on the basis of 1 advisor to 28 kindergarten units.

C&K Administration Grant

Previous financial years administration grant allocation, adjusted to take into account payroll tax liabilities and the number of kindergarten units being serviced.

Capital Grant

Up to 50% subsidy on approved project costs up to a maximum of $50 000 per eligible project per annum.

Current Rates

Recurrent assistance dependent on child contact hours and salary levels of staff employed.

Recurrent Level 2: for approved non-affiliated centres

Maximum payment of $16,600 per annum

Capital Grant

Up to 50% subsidy to a maximum of $50 000 per project per annum.

Data Requirements

Recurrent Assistance

Data Required	Data Source	Time Collected
Preprinted claim form Electronic data file Copies of claims	C&K/kindergartens	Quarterly: Level 1 centres Half-yearly: Level 2 centres

Advisory & Administration

Data Required	Data Source	Time Collected
Budget estimates	C&K	Semester 1

Capital Grant

Data Required	Data Source	Lodgement Date with C&K
Application forms	C&K	by 2nd Friday in April

Accountability

Data Required	Data Source	Time Collected
Financial Statements	C&K	By 1 October each year
Educational Accountability Statement	C&K	By 30 April each year

Contact

School Financial Services Unit

Phone:: (07) 3237 0774
Fax:: (07) 3237 1187

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