How To Handle Children Who's Parents Work In The School System?

[mamap]

Hi All!

My newest question is this: I have a potential family that requires care for their child care only during the school year (mom works for the public school system). How do you handle this? Does the family pay 100% of tuition regardless of attendance (seems unfair to me), offer a pro-rates rate (such as 1.5 times tuition to "hold" the spot during school breaks) or just tell the families to withdraw their child for breaks and hope there's a spot available when it's time to start again? I'm leaning toward the pro-rated amount but I'm just not sure this will cover my expenses (I've got a part-time assistant that will become full time once I have more kiddos in attendance). Any suggestions would be most appreciated!!

Thanks!!

MamaP

[butterfly]

I do school year only daycare, so this family would be perfect for me. I won't be much help for you, but I only charge during the school year and I'm closed through the summer and all school holidays.

[itlw8]

my teachers bring the kids 2 or 3 days each week in the summer at a lower rate. I would love to have summers off and then I would have them pay a holding fee

[butterfly]

my teachers bring the kids 2 or 3 days each week in the summer at a lower rate. I would love to have summers off and then I would have them pay a holding fee

Yes, I forgot I just charge 1 week's rate as an enrollment/holding fee for the summer and then that fee is applied to the last week of care with me but nonrefundable if they don't return.

[Blackcat31]

I used to be accommodating and understanding of parents who work in sectors that have extended off times such as teachers but now I simply offer a space at one weekly rate and they can use it or lose it.

Where they work really doesn't effect me so I don't allow it to effect my income either.

I know that doesn't work for everyone and that is ok but that is how I do it.

One space = one rate = regardless of attendance.

[CedarCreek]

I give my teachers an option:

Take them out and hope there is a spot when school starts up

Or pay half tuition and they can bring their child up to 2 days a week (preapproved days)

I got that last idea from someone on here

[KnoxMom]

Most places charge 50% tuition to hold the spot or else the spot risks being filled. Alternatively, you could take this family and offer one 'summer camp' opening only for the weeks the child will not be in attendance so you don't lose the pay or offer drop-in care for those months since you will have one spot open. I've not been in this situation; just bouncing some ideas! Hope it helps

[AfterSchoolMom]

Could you charge them a higher rate (the same rate for 52 weeks per year only charged for 40'ish) and then bank the difference for the summer?

[MamaBearCanada]

I only do school year so no charge over summer. There is however a 2 week non refundable deposit for their spot for September.

[mamap]

Oh my gosh, ladies, these have all given me lots of ideas! I'm so thankful for all your suggestions! I actually really like the summer camp idea-I just get so attached to my kiddos! Definitely lots to consider here!!!

[Texasjeepgirl]

Ditto on what BLACKCAT said..

I had a teacher enroll her son in July of 2011..
She was a single mom.. son was 2 years old.
She began bringing him to care as soon as she had completed the enrollment process.. so that he could begin getting used to being in care.. before school began the following month..
However.. she had taken him to another home care provider.. catered to infants only...and she took the child year round..
Several reasons..
#1.. it's usually better for the kids.. they have the routine.. and their friends...and daycare schedule..
But #2... she had trainings and workshops to attend ...
she also had various other things she was trying to take care of in her summer off time..
not all of which would be 2 year old friendly..
she had her days that she slept in...
brought him at 9 a.m.. instead of 7:15 during school session... (my cut off time for attendance is 9:30 each day)...
she also had other days she would keep him home with her because of out of town company.. or other activities.....
But she understood from DAY 1 of enrollment that I charge tuition 52 weeks per year... regardless of attendance..

It is their choice to enroll in daycare... even if they anticipate they won't need fulltime care during summer break.

[MissAnn]

I give my teachers an option:

Take them out and hope there is a spot when school starts up

Or pay half tuition and they can bring their child up to 2 days a week (preapproved days)

I got that last idea from someone on here

This is exactly what I do.

[CedarCreek]

This is exactly what I do.

It might have been you I stole it from! ::

[lovemykidstoo]

Right now I have 2 families where the moms are teachers. The one family has twins with me and the other has 1 son. In previous years, I allowed them to come half the time and it was no problem because I had siblings of other dck's that needed summer care so I was full. This year is different. I don't have any school kids coming back. The one family with the twins are coming 1 day instead of 3 and the other family with 1 boy is coming 2 days instead of 4, but his brother is coming too so it's the same amount of money per week. It bothers me that I won't be able to supplement the twins 2 days a week that they won't be coming on one hand, but on the other hand I have a baby starting (sibling of a dcb) so a lighter schedule might be nice too. When these 2 families leave, I am definately going to have new rules if I get teachers again.

[Meeko]

I'm with BlackCat. I have a certain amount of places at a certain price. I couldn't care less what the parents do for a living. My set up either works for them or is doesn't, but I don't change the way I run things for anyone.

To tell the truth, I have never understood why teachers expect special treatment anyway. They get paid year round and pay their other bills year round. All other parents are expected to pay whether they are there or not. Why do teachers get special?

What about the dad's who don't work much during the winter because they are construction workers? Or nurses who work rotation shifts?

My personal opinion is that special should be given to everyone according to their work schedule...or nobody.