Hi Klutch, They have been very tight lipped about occupancy...

Hi Klutch,

They have been very tight lipped about occupancy levels in 2015.

Based on your presentation above it would appear, as you say, "fairly solid based on these numbers".

Personally, I would like to see more transparency in their reporting, mainly relating to income. Most informed reporting would see the income broken down as follows:

Fees from parents
Child Care Benefit (CCB)
Child Care Rebate(CCR)
Jobs Education & Training (JET)
Inclusion Support Funding (ISF)
Enrolment Advances ( around $140 per child paid on enrolment repaid on exit from centre)
Long Day Care Professional Development Programme (LDCPDP)
Government subsidies paid for trainees
Bonds held (normally two weeks fees in advance by parents refunded on exit from centre)

IMO to report as above and to take into account the fees increases applied (usually January and July) would present those interested in using the financials to gauge occupancy a more accurate picture.

The last few years have seen purchases of some very high performing centres. Kids Corner occupancy 93% at time of purchase, the following year another group 95% occupancy at time of purchase and The Sterling Group premium centres high occupancy. IMO there are within the group some under performing centres that are being carried by the high performance of other centres, these centres would be best in the hands of an owner/educator.

The beginning of February will give a true picture of centre vacancies.