Handbooks/Policies

[jokalima]

Hi,

Just wanted to say that I finally gave my new HB last week with the rate increase as well. No problem, all the parents said it was ok and sign it. Oh and the best part is not one late pick up after I gave the new HB. Thanks to all that shared their HB with me, and to those that gave me advise on how to make a better one.

[Blackcat31]

Hi,

Just wanted to say that I finally gave my new HB last week with the rate increase as well. No problem, all the parents said it was ok and sign it. Oh and the best part is not one late pick up after I gave the new HB. Thanks to all that shared their HB with me, and to those that gave me advise on how to make a better one.

happyface That is fantastic! Very happy for you! happyface

[MamaBearCanada]

BlackCat,

If you wouldn't mind I would also like to read your contract/handbook. I run a small home daycare in Canada and I'm sure there are several issues I haven't considered covering. I'll PM you my email address... if I can work out how to do it!

Thanks.

[Truly Scrumptious]

Tom Copeland has a great Contracts and Policies book. It's very helpful. He will tell you that your contract should be separate from your policy and that the contract deals only with time and money and the policies deal with everything else.
He also tells providers that parents should always be required to give a 2 weeks written notice, but not providers. Providers can terminate AT WILL!
Go to Read Leaf Press to find it and if you go to the NAFCC Website you can join one his webinars. If you have any questions, he will even speak with you personally.

[Nickel]

Love love love reading all the advice and ideas on this thread. Black cat, can you PM me so I can give you me email. Would love to read your handbook as well!

I was considering modifying the handbook I received when I was thinking about putting my child in daycare. I haven't read all the way through it yet, but I'm thinking I can modify it to fit my needs with all the advice found here.

And I read on someones about giving the family 5 sick days per year. I thought that was a great idea. and after that they would pay for any days they missed. When your families take vacations, do you all charge them 100%, 50% or 0% I was thinking of giving them 2 weeks per year at 50% to hold the spot...

And how many of you all charge BEFORE services? I was thinking of charging two weeks of care as the deposit and then letting the families decide if they want to pay weekly, semimonthly or monthly. So the weekly rate would be x amount the semimonthly rate would be weekly rate x 52(weeks) divided by 24 payments and the monthly rate would be weekly rate x 52 divided by 12. Would this eliminate problems? I mean I guess people could always pay every other week as well, but since I'll most likely be accepting military I think that works out easier for everyone. So in that case, do you charge the whole amount up front? Like if they want to pay monthly do you charge an entire month up front, or would you just do the two week deposit and then they pay the entire month after those two weeks are up? I think I'm confusing myself here... sorry if i hijacked the thread!!! t.i.a

[daycaremama2]

i cant see the handbook-- i need to make one, help please!

[texascare]

coud you send me one too Blackcat31?

[WDW]

Anyone want to share their handbook with me? I am updating mine and getting a few new families soon.. want to make sure I get it right this time

[daycarediva]

http://jessicasfamilychildcare-com.webs.com/

my handbook is on my (work in progress) website.

Funny how ONE family pretty much made all of those 'rules'

[coolconfidentme]

parent hand book/contracts

I've been searching for 2 hours now and some of the threads don't have contract stuff just people talking about it, I need stuff that is put in it. And this also seems like a common question

My handbook can be found on my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/notes/a-to-...79312038848931

(Theft is the highest form of flattery!)

[Chatter Box]

Those of you who can't post it here, just a suggestion (cause personally I would love to see them myself), but google has a place you can store your documents online. If you sign up for a gmail account there is a link at the top when you log in that says "Drive" you can just upload them and share the links here. It would be easier than emailing them individually and a time saver for us. It would be nice to see them for sure! Blackcat I would love it if you would email me yours since everyone is raving over it. I will pm you my email address.

I have a pretty thorough one but would love to see if I'm missing anything. I also need to see how you split up your contract vs your handbook because I am greatly struggling with that part specifically. ...and of course I have an interview coming tomorrow!

[Magic]

I just had to rewrite my contract after I got ripped off for 1,300
the contract is only as good as you ( me ) standing up to it
I am a bleeding heart and well ...it has cost me
one thing I did do was have at the bottom of each page in contract / policies was date and signed by both parties
I have an introduction , displine, and enrollment info on other pages seprate from the contract
I am going to try to attach it ..when rewriting mine I wish this thread was up for man I needed help and I see some others that I would of used a couple ideas from

[apick]

Would love feedback on my handbook

So I'm a newbie provider, only been up and running for 4.5 months and just got my first child that I think will actually stick around. I used the book "From Babysitter to Business Owner" to outline my handbook and it's absolutely fantastic!! I "borrowed" my enrollment form from a daycare center I found online and then just changed it for myself. If you're looking for examples of handbooks, contracts or just any forms in general, visit www.thedaycarelady.com. There is thousands of forms on her site and they're all free!! I took multiple versions of contracts on there and then made one that I liked best for myself. My contact is at the end of my parent handbook. I would love feedback from you more experienced ladies since I'm so new at this! Luckily I have a degree in business so the forms and polices part was kind of easy, at least getting them on paper...we will see how I do in enforcing them !
If you have any other tips for a newbie I would love them!! Thanks!!

[JLH]

I would tell her those spots are no longer available and turn her away. Another idea would be to tell her that to keep your rates comparable to others in your area, you recently implemented a rate increase to all daycare families, new and old, and you now have new rates she would have to agree to before enrolling.

[JLH]

I use State Farm Insurance and pay about $25 a month. It covers renters insurance on a home with a daycare clause.