Tweet
And what is your opening hours? I use the same structure as well, my opening time is 7:30 but not every parent will drop off at that time. Black cat gave me the advice to not mention the opening time to parents but I did have a parent ask if the rate changes with a later drop off time, I replied no, any other advice about that?
-
-
I am sure Nan will correct me if I am wrong, but I think the point is to simply pick up earlier in the day not base the rates off the number of hours they use.
For example if a parent drops off at 7:30 a.m. when you open and picks up at 3:00 a.m., they will pay the same rate as a parent who drops off at 9:00 a.m. and also picks up at 3:00 p.m.
So in your case where a parent aske dabout the rate changing because of a later drop off time, the answer would be "no, the rate doesn't change because it is based on pick up time not based on hours used."
Hope that makes sense. I too, have parents dropping off at multiple times but their rates are all still based on what time they pick up. (that is the only time I am concerned about)
If they want to get more for their money then they could drop off earlier/the minute I open.
I would rather have all my daycare kids the first hour I am open than have them all the last hour before I am done for the day. kwim?Comment
-
Comment
-
I never, I repeat, never give my opening and closing times to anyone, over the phone, email, etc... I don't have any. I provide daycare for work and commute times only. I know in my area, the teachers could get off earlier, if they were rewarded for picking up earlier. I might casually bring this up in a newsletter and see what kind of response I would receive from it. I know the teachers are all off between 3:15 and 3:30 here. They are all within 15 min. of drive time from my house. One of them is about 7-8 min. away.
I know they could be here before 4:30, but they just always come between 4:15-4:30.Comment
-
I know this is an OLD post, but im changing to contracted hours with rates dependent on drop off and pick up times. before 7am is extra and after 4 is extra. My only problem is the wording for my contract. I have found myself over wording everything and so it no longer makes any sense. I accept F/T and P?T care. IF a parent wants part time they have to have the same scheduled days each week. If they rotate then they have to pay for a F/T spot. I want to make sure they know that they have to pay for the same amount of days each week.
Here is my wording now and it does not make any sense. I don't think anyway.
RATES
Rates reflect each child’s schedule and each family may have a different schedule and rate plan. Therefore my rates are not to be discussed with other families or potential families.
There will be a flat tuition rate according to your child’s contracted hours. You will be required to fill out your child’s schedule and those will become the only hours care is available for your child. That will also become your weekly rate. If your schedule changes each week I will give you a copy of the rate sheet and you will need to submit your schedule as well as payment by pick up time the last day of the week your child attends for the following pay period. Knowing exactly when to expect children to arrive and when they will be picked up helps me to make meal and activity plans. Rates are based on drop off and pick up times, not actual attendance. You pay for a slot so your scheduled days will be the same each week regardless if your child will be off one day during a week or not. The tuition is paid 52 weeks a year regardless of attendance. Tuition is due in advance for the following pay period. Payment must be made by pick up time the last day your child attends for the week.
I do not offer an hourly rate. Anytime your child attends will be considered a full day regardless of the hours attended.
These rates are based on the child’s drop off and pick up times contracted for the week and not by actual attendance. No credit will be given for late drop offs or early pickups.
All rates are based on enrollment not attendance. You are required to submit a written schedule with your payment by pick up time the last day of the week your child attends, for the upcoming care period. If your schedule will remain the same each week, then I only need one schedule needs to be submitted and your rate will remain the same each week. Any changes to that schedule must be submitted in writing as soon as possible and the provider will do what she can to accommodate the new schedule. However there is no guarantee that provider will be able to accommodate a schedule that changes from what both parties previously agreed to in this contract. You are able to set your child’s schedule therefor it is expected that you adhere to the times you contract. There is no grace period for drop off or pick up time, please take into consideration travel times when you make your schedule. Other children may be scheduled to be here when your child is not so please adhere to your contracted schedule.
If care is needed before 7:00am or after 4:00pm there is an additional charge of $2.50 per child, per ½ hour or portion thereof. If at any time you pay the additional fees for hours outside of 7-4 and you do not use that time, it will not carry over to another day nor will a refund be given. You are paying for a spot, not actual attendance. You will have a set weekly schedule for days and rate will be calculated by contracted drop off and pick up times, but you are able to change your contracted drop off and pick up times weekly. For ex. You need care M-Th until 5pm but on Tues next week you will pick up by 4pm so you save $5 off next week’s tuition.
These are the rates for hours between 7am-4pm any time earlier than 7am or later than 4pm is $2.50 per ½ hour or potion thereof. No refunds or carry over will be given if additional time scheduled and paid for is not used.
Here I have a grid with the age and base rates.
Please fill out contracted days to remain the same each week and approximate times you will need care if your schedule changes weekly. You will then fill out a weekly contracted schedule and submit with payment. If schedule is the same each week then this will serve as your master contracted schedule each week.
Here I have them fill out their scheduled days and hours
Please notate weekly set rate here: __________________________________
Sorry if it doesn't make any sense. I definitely need help wording this.
TYIAComment
-
Ok I posted before reading one of Nannyde's blogs. I understand the wording for the contract now, but I don't understand if the rate sheet is separate from the contract or if it is all in the contract, because I thought it had to be in the contract to be legally binding? Or can I just attach the rate sheet to the contract and have the parent sign it?
And do ou give them a copy of the rate sheet so that they can reference it each week when figuring out their hours and the amount they need to pay?Comment
-
My handbook is one separate thing. Parents agree to the policies and sign off.
My rate sheet is also separate and has it's own contract page where parents sign and agree to the rate.
So in each persons file, I have a signed agreement in regards to program policies and signed agreement in regards to rates and payment dates.Comment
-
I have the policies and contract.
They are not together. The contract doesn't have the rate table on it. I just keep track of the yearly rate table for the year they enrolled so if there is a schedule change I pull it out and calculate the rate change. My parents know the rate before they even ask for a schedule change. My base rate starts at three pm and is a dollar per every fifteen minutes extra after three. If they go over the nine hours it is an additional five dollars plus the rate for that time slot per day.Comment
-
I have a rate sheet for prospective families.
I have a policy book that includes general policy on when payment is due, holidays etc.
(Nowhere close to as wordy as yours though)
The contract does NOT spell out every possible rate configuration. It says Parents X & Y agree to pay Provider P $XXX per week for xxx hours/days. And any other time used incurs additional fees.Comment
-
Nannyde,
Thank you.
Do the parents have a set schedule for drop off and pick up every day and every week or does it vary?
If it varies, how do they know how much to pay the next week? Do you give them a copy of the rate sheet so they can figure it out? Do you make them have a set schedule and then if they need an additional hour here or there do you make them request it for over time?
Also 9 hours would be 6am drop off if they leave at 3. Are you always just available at 6am no matter what or what? How does that work?
What if they need drop off before 6 on occasion, How do you handle that?
I am just trying to give parents incentives to pick up early at least sometimes, but if I charge the 5pm rate for the whole week even though could pick up at 4 every day but one a week, then I think they would leave the kid here til 5 everyday since that is the rate they pay for. kwim?
That is why I am wanting to kind of add it on per day, for additional hours if its not needed every day, but don't know how to word it and if I should just let them figure it out weekl from their copy of the rate sheet.
I know I am probably making this harder than it really is, I just know my dcp and it they are charged til 5 regardless, they will bring them til 5 even if it wastes gas and such.
Thank youComment
-
I have open hours (no choice, required by my agency), but my .02 is this.
If the time is more important to you than the money, I would charge them the early pickup weekly rate, and add in $X so they can pickup at Y time on Z day. I would not let them change it. Yes, you can pay the $120 rate for 3pm pickup all week, and an extra $10 because on Tuesday you are picking up at 4:30. Your weekly rate is $130. I wouldn't let them switch Tuesday for Wednesday. Rate is $130 a week including a late Tuesday pickup.
If the money is more important than the time, charge them the higher rate but know they might use the later pickup all week.
If they don't need the same day all the time, or sometimes need and sometimes don't, I would charge a higher rate for a 1 time late pickup, and tell them tehy need to ask you 24 hours in advance if you have space and reserve (and pay) for it then.Comment
-
Thank you Rachel.Comment
-
If I have a family that needs mixed departure times I do this.
Let's say the 3 pm departure is 100 a week and the 5 pm is 150
A fam needs three 5pm departures and two 3pm departures.
I would charge 40 for the two three pms and 90 for the 5pms.
There total would be 130 per week.
100 a week for five days is 20 per day. They need two of those so 20+20=40
150 a week is 30 a day and they need three of those so that would be 90.
90+40=130Comment
-
Thank you Nannyde.Comment
Comment