Night care lets mums and dads go out to play NSW Academy of Early Learning in Casula is one of the first childcare centres to open on Saturday nights from 5pm to midnight.Picture: John Fotiadis Source: The Sunday Telegraph KEEPING the romance alive has become a whole lot easier and cheaper thanks to a childcare centre which offers an evening service to enable couples quality time together. The lovebirds special, which costs $95 and operates from 5pm to midnight at the NSW Academy of Early Learning in Casula, says an added bonus is that it is eligible for government rebates. Owners Antony and Marc Elazzi said late-night care was much cheaper than hiring a babysitter. "We believe that night care is the way of the future for the childcare industry," Antony Elazzi said. We have created such a complicated world, where people have to work at night. The industry can provide a safe environment for children to stay which is regulated by the government, so that parents can work at night. Marc Elazzi said the centre would consider opening on other nights of the week and later than midnight if there was demand. "Many of our parents have taken advantage of a night out without the kids," he said. It's been perfect for parents that need a night off for a wedding, engagement or another event. We're starting off slow intentionally to make sure we get it right. As it gets busier, we'll reassess. Children are entertained with music, movies, games and snacks. There are also discos, pyjama parties and fancy dress theme nights. "The children end up having more fun than their parents," Marc Elazzi said. The kids get to enjoy each other's company. The staff we have are trained and experienced and they know what kids enjoy doing. We've got the same ratios of staff as we do during the day and the children are supervised and safe at all times. Antony Elazzi said the centre began offering night childcare last month after a shift-working single mother said she had had trouble finding childcare for her kids. He said the service had been popular not only with shift-workers but also parents who want to have time out alone. Casula mother Anna Finnerty left her children Rosemary, 4, and Aaron, 2, at the centre last weekend while she and her husband attended a party. Mrs Finnerty said: "When I heard about it, I thought this was a great opportunity for a date night with my husband. I kept thinking about them but it was great not to have to worry about an external babysitter who I didn't really know or inconveniencing family or friends. It's their school that they're used to, teachers that they're used to and I trust them because I trust them to look after my kids during the day. She said she had already received the government rebate for the outing. Macquarie Links mother-of-two Jenny Matandos used the service for the first time last night so she could attend a soccer game with her husband - and said she would apply to have the government cover half the cost of the night care.