Just Came On In!

[craftymissbeth]

I totally agree and have said so to my regulator at each visit. They say it is for fire safety as the children need to get out if there is a fire and may not be able to do so w/ the door locked. I even tried see if a door that would open from the inside when locked would work but they said no. I DO still lock it when I go to the bathroom if my assistance is not in the room, and at nap time if I leave the room (we are allowed to be out of the room for 15 min spans while the children are sleeping). They can just ding me on that if they happen to come by then!

My yearly surprise inspection is usually in the fall so will be anytime- I heard we have a new inspector this year so I will make sure to mention it to him/her!!

Is it your county's fire marshal or licensing saying you have to have your doors unlocked? Girl, your licensors over there give you all kinds of different information than ours over here!

I live on the busiest street in my town. I was told by both our fire department AND licensing that I HAVE to have my doors locked at all times. No if's and's or but's!

[littlemissmuffet]

I totally agree and have said so to my regulator at each visit. They say it is for fire safety as the children need to get out if there is a fire and may not be able to do so w/ the door locked. I even tried see if a door that would open from the inside when locked would work but they said no. I DO still lock it when I go to the bathroom if my assistance is not in the room, and at nap time if I leave the room (we are allowed to be out of the room for 15 min spans while the children are sleeping). They can just ding me on that if they happen to come by then!

My yearly surprise inspection is usually in the fall so will be anytime- I heard we have a new inspector this year so I will make sure to mention it to him/her!!

I would fight this. I would get as many local providers as possible to raise a stink about it too. Screw that! I leave my door unlocked during drop offs and pick ups and I have a knife at the top of the entrance closet in case... and otherwise my door is locked at all times. EVERYONE in a ten mile radius of me knows I am home all day and have small children in my care - my hubs is often home, but not always. I would NEVER stand for being told my door needed to be unlocked - to me it's more likely that someone who shouldn't come in would than a fire!

P.S. I didn't always feel this way. As a matter of fact, up until apretty recenlty I would keep the door unlocked all day and only unlock it at night or if we weren't home (oh Canadians ) but then I read so many locked vs unlocked threads that contained horror stories I decided better to be safe than sorry...

[JoseyJo]

Is it your county's fire marshal or licensing saying you have to have your doors unlocked? Girl, your licensors over there give you all kinds of different information than ours over here!

I live on the busiest street in my town. I was told by both our fire department AND licensing that I HAVE to have my doors locked at all times. No if's and's or but's!

I just emailed my surveyor and told her that you were told different and asked her if it is a county difference or if the rule had changed. I HOPE HOPE HOPE that she says I can keep my doors locked!! I would put up a notice today saying effective monday the doors will be locked at all times due to licensing regulation and parents MUST call when they are the way to p/u to make sure they don't wake anyone up by knocking/ringing doorbell. I have been wanting to get my dc parents to call when they are coming FOREVER and this would be a perfect segue into it!

[UtahMomma]

Are you sure that your regs say doors must be unlocked at all times? Ours says that parents must have access at any time, but that doesn't mean we have to have unlocked doors..just that we let parents in promptly.

This!

[daycare]

I had this happen to me before, but I was here in the back of the house with DCks. DCM dropped off on an unscheduled day and put me over ratios. Door was unlocked, she came in and left kid in the front room. She knew what she was doing......yes I termed.

After that here are my new rules... I also work with my husband, BUT I work all day, he never works am shift EVER.

so my rule is this. Do not leave your child, until you have signed your child in, talked directly to me making it known that I am aware your child is present. Be sure to tell me any pertinent information you feel necessary so that I can continue to provide the best care for your chlid.
Failure to follow this policy will result in immediate termination of care without refund.

I would also be telling this parent that since she dropped off early without prior approved notification, that you will be charging her an early open fee of $50.00. I have this in my policy as well..... Of course, I never open early....No one will ever ask...

[JoseyJo]

I got a response back from my surveyor- she says "Children must be able to get out in case of fire and parents must have access"

I sent another email asking for clarification- is that yes or no on locking the door? What does "able to get out in case of fire" and "have access" actually mean?

[daycare]

I got a response back from my surveyor- she says "Children must be able to get out in case of fire and parents must have access"

I sent another email asking for clarification- is that yes or no on locking the door? What does "able to get out in case of fire" and "have access" actually mean?

I am in CA....I have to have an emergency egress door handle....this means that the door is always locked from the outside, but never on the inside......I have a large LIC, so this is why...... Before I was a large LIC. I had a regular door knob and hated it. So many parents would just walk in........

Now they have to knock, there is no other choice.......

[JoseyJo]

I have those types of handles in the garage- I just changed to regular handles about 6 mo ago when I changed out a broken deadbolt (wanted all the locks to have 1 key). So if all we have to do is "promptly" give parents access and have an always-unlocked-on-the-inside doorknob I can handle that

[daycare]

I have those types of handles in the garage- I just changed to regular handles about 6 mo ago when I changed out a broken deadbolt (wanted all the locks to have 1 key). So if all we have to do is "promptly" give parents access and have an always-unlocked-on-the-inside doorknob I can handle that

yes it is nice actually.....there is NO way possible for anyone to leave the door unlocked ever...

the only bad part is that the DCKs will open the door when parents are doing pick up. I have a rule that only adults can open the doors, never kids. they all know better than to even think about touching the door knob, that is unless there is an emergency..

[Unregistered]

I am in CA....I have to have an emergency egress door handle....this means that the door is always locked from the outside, but never on the inside......I have a large LIC, so this is why...... Before I was a large LIC. I had a regular door knob and hated it. So many parents would just walk in........

Now they have to knock, there is no other choice.......

This is the best idea!


Now for the OP: OMG My contract always stated that they were to drop their kids off to ME, not anyone else, and not before my opening time EVER without a phone call. If they tried I'd make them stand outside and open the door at EXACTLY my time (5am) just like all other businesses do. If they had ever tried to come into my home after finding my door unlocked, they'd be termed right then and there.

[craftymissbeth]

I got a response back from my surveyor- she says "Children must be able to get out in case of fire and parents must have access"

I sent another email asking for clarification- is that yes or no on locking the door? What does "able to get out in case of fire" and "have access" actually mean?

Ok, I spoke to my sister who just recently closed her daycare in the same town I live in. Our licensor told her that her door had to be locked, also :confused:

I'm guessing it's because I'm on such a busy street.

What I completely don't understand is this... my playroom and my sister's playrooms where our children spend pretty much ALL of their indoor time both have baby gates blocking the children from getting out. How is that any different?

I'm so confused :confused:

And I'm SO sorry if I spoke before I should have. My licensor told me mine had to be locked, but did not clarify that this was a special circumstance.

[countrymom]

I don't think you have to have your doors unlocked all day. I would only unlock them during my hours. so if I open at 7am then I would unlock, but not a minute sooner.

[JoseyJo]

Ok, I spoke to my sister who just recently closed her daycare in the same town I live in. Our licensor told her that her door had to be locked, also :confused:

I'm guessing it's because I'm on such a busy street.

What I completely don't understand is this... my playroom and my sister's playrooms where our children spend pretty much ALL of their indoor time both have baby gates blocking the children from getting out. How is that any different?

I'm so confused :confused:

And I'm SO sorry if I spoke before I should have. My licensor told me mine had to be locked, but did not clarify that this was a special circumstance.

No! Don't be sorry at all! I am hoping she will say I can keep it locked if I have special handles and I let DC parents in when they knock/ring doorbell/call within a reasonable amount of time. She didnt say No to my email, she just said "children need to be able to get out in case of fire and parents must have access". We will find out probably monday when she responds to my f/u email

We already have the "no one touches the door except an adult rule" with instant TO if they do touch it. TOO DANGEROUS to mess around with!

[craftymissbeth]

No! Don't be sorry at all! I am hoping she will say I can keep it locked if I have special handles and I let DC parents in when they knock/ring doorbell/call within a reasonable amount of time. She didnt say No to my email, she just said "children need to be able to get out in case of fire and parents must have access". We will find out probably monday when she responds to my f/u email

We already have the "no one touches the door except an adult rule" with instant TO if they do touch it. TOO DANGEROUS to mess around with!

I just emailed my licensor. I asked her about it and also stated that I feel extremely uncomfortable with the enormous liability of leaving my doors unlocked on such a busy street. Not only can a child "escape", but unwanted people can get in!

I'm hoping she also tells me that they can remain locked.

[MarinaVanessa]

I am in CA....I have to have an emergency egress door handle....this means that the door is always locked from the outside, but never on the inside......I have a large LIC, so this is why...... Before I was a large LIC. I had a regular door knob and hated it. So many parents would just walk in........

Now they have to knock, there is no other choice.......

I'm in CA but have a small licence for 8 kids and I got hardware with a handle on it instead of a doorknob. I love it. I keep it locked on the outside at all times it can be opened from the I side just by pulling the handle down even when the door is locked on the outside.

It's one of those Schlage Link system ones which comes with a keypad. My household all have their own codes to get in for keyless entry which work all of the time and my clients with regular schedules have codes that work during their contracted schedules (I pay the monthly fee for the contracted codes). This helps me with the "open door" policy as well as safety regulations and I get to keep my door locked for added safety.