Fees

An application fee of HK$500* applies to all K1 and K2 applications for this academic year.

The application fee for the Pre-Nursery class at Tung Chung Kindergarten is HK$40.

The fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable for each application and that the collection of fee constitutes no assurance that a school place or interview will be offered. The fee does not provide any priority over the allocation of a morning or afternoon session, which are randomly allocated in order to ensure equal opportunities for all successful applications.

Income from application fees, as a whole is intended to cover the administrative cost of the online application system as well as the staff cost of the play visit and parental interview for admission assessment purposes. Children may be invited back to the kindergarten for a second visit if the school needs further information on the child. The kindergarten may involve the special educational needs advisor in this visit.

*Effective 1 September 2023, the application fee will be increased to $1,000 (subject to Education Bureau’s approval).

Starting from 2020/21, new students are required to purchase either a CLASS A or a CLASS B debenture when a place in a kindergarten is accepted.

The nominal value of CLASS A and CLASS B debentures are HK$500,000 and HK$7,000 respectively. The debenture is non-transferable and will be refunded within 30 days of the child’s last day of attendance at the kindergarten, subject to a one-month advance notice of withdrawal in writing. Details about the CLASS A debenture and the debenture redemption policy can be viewed here

The CLASS B debenture will be redeemed on the earlier of: (a) the date the child (for whom this debenture was acquired) graduates from the kindergarten, which is normally at the end of K2, or (b) the expiry of one month’s withdrawal notice via the ESF App provided that all fees due to ESF Educational Services Limited have been fully paid at that date. Details about the CLASS B debenture and the debenture redemption policy can be viewed here

The securing of a place after an offer has been made requires (1) the purchase of either a CLASS A or a CLASS B debenture (at a cost of HK$500,000 and HK$7,000 respectively) and (2) payment in advance of the first month’s school fees.

If a child is withdrawn from the kindergarten prior to the commencement of the academic year, the first month’s school fees will not be refunded and the debenture will not be redeemed unless one month’s advance written notice is provided to the kindergarten.

Parents whose child is already in kindergarten and who would like to reserve a place for the following school year are required to make an advance payment of September’s fees in August to secure the place.

Fees are due on the first day of each month and are paid monthly by direct debit. Direct Debit Authorisation forms are available from ESF Centre or your child’s kindergarten. We recommend the “Limit for Each Month” to be set at HK$12,000. Click here to download the Direct Debit Authorisation Form and here for an instruction on how to fill out the form.

Statements of account and receipts are not sent to parents as fees are paid by monthly direct debit. However, payment receipts can be issued upon request. Please contact Billing Section at billing@esfcentre.edu.hk if receipt is required.

Please note that parents are held responsible for payment of school fees regardless the fees are actually paid by their employers or by any other third parties.

If fee payments are overdue, students may be excluded from school. Once excluded, students will not be permitted to re-enrol into any ESF kindergartens, primary, secondary and all-through schools unless all outstanding fees have been fully repaid. All the fees, levies, deposits and charges in relation to student admission are applicable to the students re-applying or returning ESF kindergartens, primary, secondary and all-through schools. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that an excluded student will be returned to his or her former class.

Fees remain payable if a student goes on leave during term time; closure of the Kindergarten as a result of a government recommendation or directive, of any kind of force majeure incident or for operational reasons.

If a student leaves or is admitted part way through the school year, attendance on any day in a particular month renders school fees payable for the entire month.

Please ensure that the Kindergarten and/or ESF Centre are notified promptly of any change of address, telephone numbers or designated bank account for direct debit.

If your child is going to withdraw from the kindergarten, please complete and submit the Student Withdrawal Form via the ESF App at least one calendar month before the last attendance date.

If you are withdrawing your child at the end of this academic year, please complete and submit the Student Withdrawal Form via the ESF App on or before 1 June. Otherwise, we will assume that your child is returning after summer and parents are liable to the tuition fees for September even if the student does not return to school.

*Your debenture on account will not be redeemed without the one-month advance notice of withdrawal.

Remarks:

1. If a family has more than one child attending ESF schools, please submit individual withdrawal notice for each child.
2. Tuition fees are charged for a complete month. There’s no pro-rata adjustment for attendance for part of a month.
3. Any change of last attendance date / cancellation of withdrawal is subject to the availability of school places at respective schools.
4. If there is any credit balance / refundable debenture on account, refund will be made via the designated auto-pay account.
5. Please expect the financial settlement, including any eligible refund, will be completed within two calendar months after student’s last date of attendance.
6. *Redemption conditions and requirements of Class A and Class B debentures are set out on the ESF website here.
7. Parents are required to pay the redeemable debenture and advance fees as a new enrolment if their child re-enters the kindergarten after the date of withdrawal.

Should you have any enquiries regarding student withdrawal, please contact the school administrator for assistance.

If you have any queries about fees, deposits or debenture, please contact our billing hotline at:

Tel: (+852) 3762 2422 or

Email: billing@esfcentre.edu.hk

Please quote your child’s student account number, which is shown on all receipts.

Due to the temporary shortage of staff in the billing office, some services will be affected despite our best effort to minimize any disruption.
With immediate effect, our billing hotline operates from 9.30am to 12:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Alternatively, please contact us via e-mail to billing@esfcentre.edu.hk for fee inquiries.
We will review the service arrangement from time to time and make necessary adjustments in due course.