Teacher Schedules

[WImom]

How do you handle the dreaded...Do I have to pay during summer and breaks?

I have had teachers in the past but for some reason they have always been 4year olds so they just ended care in June.
I do want to charge during breaks but I understand summer not wanting to pay- Should I charge a 2 week tuition that is used the following September but nonrefundable if they leave? Should I charge a small fee to hold spot? How would you do it?

[Familycare71]

I like having summers light so I welcome teachers... I have found that if I charged them a holding fee they go else where. I always charge a two week deposit to be used for the two weeks they return to care.
When I did try to charge a two day a week min for the summer they always ended up bringing their kids those two days or not continuing/starting care.
It really depends I think on if you need the income in the summer or prefer having it off.

[Blackcat31]

How do you handle the dreaded...Do I have to pay during summer and breaks?

I have had teachers in the past but for some reason they have always been 4year olds so they just ended care in June.
I do want to charge during breaks but I understand summer not wanting to pay- Should I charge a 2 week tuition that is used the following September but nonrefundable if they leave? Should I charge a small fee to hold spot? How would you do it?

When I get asked "Do I have to pay during summer and breaks?" I say that I have several options available for teachers.

The options are:

#1 Yearly rate divided by 9 months, paid monthly. (NO attendance in summer)

This takes what they would pay over a 12 month period and instead of paying your normal weekly rate, they pay that plus a little extra.
(I save that extra and "pay" myself all summer.)

#2 One lump sum to hold their space. (NO attendance permitted without additional payment)
For example if your normally weekly rate is $150 or approx. $600 per month, I would charge them $450 for the month and enjoy the lighter work load for a little less money

#3 Attend a minimum of 3 days per week (if over 2 yrs old) and a minimum of 2 days a week (if under 2 yrs old) to hold their space.

I enjoy the lighter work load in the summer so I am willing to negotiate a bit for summer rates.

The last several years I have done nothing but straight payment 52 weeks a year but I am finding that as I age, I am a lot more willing to take a slight pay cut and not deal with the child at all for a few weeks/months plus I really enjoy the outside time in the summer months and having a lighter load of children enables us to do some things we don't normally do.


As for school breaks and holidays, that's on them. I already offer a flexible payment plan for summer, what more do they want?

I have paid holidays already and the few teacher workshops and such that there are, most my teachers work or bring their kids anyways so that has never been an issue.

HTH

[Familycare71]

When I get asked "Do I have to pay during summer and breaks?" I say that I have several options available for teachers.

The options are:

#1 Yearly rate divided by 9 months, paid monthly. (NO attendance in summer)

This takes what they would pay over a 12 month period and instead of paying your normal weekly rate, they pay that plus a little extra.
(I save that extra and "pay" myself all summer.)

#2 One lump sum to hold their space. (NO attendance permitted without additional payment)
For example if your normally weekly rate is $150 or approx. $600 per month, I would charge them $450 for the month and enjoy the lighter work load for a little less money

#3 Attend a minimum of 3 days per week (if over 2 yrs old) and a minimum of 2 days a week (if under 2 yrs old) to hold their space.

I enjoy the lighter work load in the summer so I am willing to negotiate a bit for summer rates.

The last several years I have done nothing but straight payment 52 weeks a year but I am finding that as I age, I am a lot more willing to take a slight pay cut and not deal with the child at all for a few weeks/months plus I really enjoy the outside time in the summer months and having a lighter load of children enables us to do some things we don't normally do.


As for school breaks and holidays, that's on them. I already offer a flexible payment plan for summer, what more do they want?

I have paid holidays already and the few teacher workshops and such that there are, most my teachers work or bring their kids anyways so that has never been an issue.

HTH

Great ideas!!! Blackcat- I love learning from you

[Unregistered]

How do you handle the dreaded...Do I have to pay during summer and breaks?

I have had teachers in the past but for some reason they have always been 4year olds so they just ended care in June.
I do want to charge during breaks but I understand summer not wanting to pay- Should I charge a 2 week tuition that is used the following September but nonrefundable if they leave? Should I charge a small fee to hold spot? How would you do it?

Reply with "do you GET paid during summer break when YOU are not at school?". Of course they do. Tell them that if they don't want to pay over summer, you can take your yearly tuition and spread it over 9 months instead of 12 for them.

[Unregistered]

Reply with "do you GET paid during summer break when YOU are not at school?". Of course they do. Tell them that if they don't want to pay over summer, you can take your yearly tuition and spread it over 9 months instead of 12 for them.

I would charge full tuition or I would tell them that you will try to fill their slot if they choose not to pay. I tell parents that they can consider me salaried and earning overtime. I have a minimum that applies just to have the slot. If their kids are not here, they pay if they want to keep the slot. I remind them that they get paid when they take vacation or sick time, and I do, as well.

[Familycare71]

Reply with "do you GET paid during summer break when YOU are not at school?". Of course they do. Tell them that if they don't want to pay over summer, you can take your yearly tuition and spread it over 9 months instead of 12 for them.

Teachers do not get paid over the summer.

[CedarCreek]

Teachers do not get paid over the summer.

Actually, it's a choice for them. They can either get the higher pay during the year and no pay for the summer or choose to spread their payments out. At least around here that's how it goes.

Me personally, I offered half pay and they could come two days a week but I won't do that next summer. I will offer half pay but just to hold their spot. If they attend at all,I still expect full pay.

[snbauser]

Teachers do not get paid over the summer.

Depends on the teacher and the school. Many teachers get the option of being paid more for 9 months or less for 12 months.


I cater to teacher and school employees. I like getting more time with my own kids when they are out of school. So I offer a 3 day/week program in the summer (Mon-Wed) that allows parents to send their kids and get stuff done without them and holds their spots for the fall, am closed when school is closed except for teacher workdays. My parents pay for all days I am open and closed except for what our schools call Annual Leave Days. These are days that are used to extend breaks. Like at Thanksgiving, Wed is an Annual Leave Day and Thursday and Friday are holidays. So I am closed all 3 days and get paid for Thursday and Friday.

[Familycare71]

In NY teachers don't get paid-
I like the extra time too! I still provide care for the full timers but appreciate if I get a lighter load

[EchoMom]

Teachers do not get paid over the summer.

Not to split hairs but teachers do not get paid FOR the summer. Teacher's get paid a salary based on the job. The job is 9 months long (although lots of planning happens in the summer too) and that is what the salary is based on. If teaching were 12 months long, the salary would have to be greater to compensate for the extra work time.

So teachers may choose to receive all their money during the year, or spread it out over the summer. But it's not money for doing nothing, it's the money the earned during the year just spread out.

I think this is what was being said already, just clarifying.



OP:
It depends upon if you NEED the teacher's family income or not. If you're desperate then charge nothing for the summer and you'll get the family. However, if you're willing to loose them then charge some type of minimum.

I tell teachers that they must agree to a 2 day a week minimum AND attend during the summer. As for the school year, they get 2 weeks of free vacation time. Others I say they get 2 weeks per calendar year. For teacher's I say 2 weeks per school year. So they can have one free week at christmas and one free for spring break.

I do lose some families over the 2 day minimum, but that's ok. Some agree and have signed up no problem. I want the child to actually ATTEND those 2 days though, because I like to keep the relationships going and familiarity.

I don't think I could charge any more than that in my area or I wouldn't get any teachers at all. But I also have learned not to do ZERO anymore. I also am careful not to take on too many teacher's families as I can't afford to lose that much every summer.

[wahmof3]

I have ALL teachers DCKs currently and for going on 6 weeks I have been WITHOUT income. I didn't plan on not having any kids this summer and then lost 3 part time DCKs.

No money in my savings AND HOLDING SPOTS for DCFs that I am not sure if they are returning.

Yeah, I am a completely at fault, but teachers around here would be outraged if they had to pay during the summer months.

It would be a totally different story if I had planned on not having any DCFs this summer.

I do, however, LOVE having a summer with MY kids, but heck I struggle to get to the grocery store.

I can care for 6 kids and I would love to take the income from that "6th" DCK and put that in a savings. Trouble is I will be playing "catch up" for a while after school starts.

I haven't figured out how to handle summer.

I do have teacher DCFs pay 50% for breaks and all school closing/holidays.

Wanted to add that I do not offer free "sick" days for teachers kids either.

[MsLaura529]

BC - I LOVE the yearly rate divided into 9 months, great idea!! I'll have to use that in the future.

I JUST enrolled a teacher family, 19 month old boy will be coming 4 days a week. They agreed to pay a 1-2 day a week rate through the summer, he would come those days. I told them it would depend on what other kids I have during the summer and what their schedules are as to whether it will be 1 or 2 days. Breaks they said wouldn't be a problem, and he would be coming then anyways.

[itlw8]

They do not get paid for summer unless they take their salary split over 12 months but it is still the same amount total

Mine come 2x a week set days. but I will do a 2 week deposit . I have learned to set the return date and a contact date. 2 weeks before teachers have to report they must contact me to confirm place or I will fill it.

[kathiemarie]

I have teachers pay a 2 week non-refundable fee to hold their spot. Around May I ask what will be their last day of care for the school year will be and what will be the first day of care in the fall.

This summer as been hard $$ wise because we traveled a lot last year and I didn't save like I should have but usually it works out fine.