Informing PT Families Of Possible Need To Change Or Drop

[daycare]

UUUGGGGHHHHH....

So I have a few kids that are PT......they all used to share schedules to take up a full time spot. A few of the parents requested schedule changes which at the time was ok. Well now I have families calling for spots and I have all these holes in my schedule....

So I need to let my part time families know that they will have 3 choices...
1. move days
2. go full time
3. term

I know what I need to do, not too sure how to address it. the last thing I want to do is come off sounding like I am choosing money over children. ALL of my PT kids have been with me for at least 2-3 years, so I would have to say good-bye to them to take a FT child.......ALL families have been aware from day one that it was possible for this to happen, it has just never happened before today................

any advice on how to go about getting this taken care of the right way would be GREAT....Thanks in advance

[daycare]

I wanted to add that I am not sure how to go about keeping things fair...

Should I base it off of who is willing to change days and or who has the seniority??

[blandino]

I am going though the same thing right now, so I will be interested to hear the answer.

[Crazy8]

I would address the issue with each family individually face to face. If you are willing to keep some part time then the ones that can work with you stay, the ones who can't get replaced. I would first see who is flexible in switching days to share a spot and if they are not let them know their other options are to pay for a full time spot (but be prepared for them to use it) or to risk being terminated.

[cheerfuldom]

I dont care whats "fair" for the parents. I try to be respectful and professional but I dont worry about making decisions based on what is based for the parents. Dont give them all this leeway in making the decision. You tell them what YOU want and need in order to continue providing care. Give them a deadline to decide, I would say by this Friday. Either they can deal or they cant

[Blackcat31]

UUUGGGGHHHHH....

So I have a few kids that are PT......they all used to share schedules to take up a full time spot. A few of the parents requested schedule changes which at the time was ok. Well now I have families calling for spots and I have all these holes in my schedule....

So I need to let my part time families know that they will have 3 choices...
1. move days
2. go full time
3. term

I know what I need to do, not too sure how to address it. the last thing I want to do is come off sounding like I am choosing money over children. ALL of my PT kids have been with me for at least 2-3 years, so I would have to say good-bye to them to take a FT child.......ALL families have been aware from day one that it was possible for this to happen, it has just never happened before today................

any advice on how to go about getting this taken care of the right way would be GREAT....Thanks in advance

Why?

I mean, I love/like working with kids too but money IS the reason I do it.

In my opinion, I think if parents understand from the get-go that MONEY (or income) is the reason why you do this, then payment issues are few and far between.

I mean if we all really truly loved kids so much that it's the FIRST reason to do this job, then why not do it for free?

I tell every single PT family upon enrollment that PT is something I do when and IF it works out and that any time an opportunity comes up to have payment for a FT space, I will ALWAYS go with the FT pay.

I will, of course offer the space (at the FT rate) to any or all of my PT families but if they don't want it, then I do what I have to do to maintain running in the black.

I'd write up a quick note saying that you can no longer accommodate the PT schedules and that you have x amount of FT spaces available and the first one to contract for it WITH payment is the one who gets it.

[Blackcat31]

I dont care whats "fair" for the parents. I try to be respectful and professional but I dont worry about making decisions based on what is based for the parents. Dont give them all this leeway in making the decision. You tell them what YOU want and need in order to continue providing care. Give them a deadline to decide, I would say by this Friday. Either they can deal or they cant

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I dont care whats "fair" for the parents. I try to be respectful and professional but I dont worry about making decisions based on what is based for the parents. Dont give them all this leeway in making the decision. You tell them what YOU want and need in order to continue providing care. Give them a deadline to decide, I would say by this Friday. Either they can deal or they cant

This is true. It's a business. As much as we try to be accommodating when we can, we can't do it to the point that we are taking $ from our own family in order for their family to save $ all the time. I get trying to be helpful but don't do your own family a disservice. You are your family's sole provider.
You love children but you are also doing this to earn $. You need to continue to be profitable in order to stay open. So, do what you need to do in order to bring in the income you need.

[Blackcat31]

This is true. It's a business. As much as we try to be accommodating when we can, we can't do it to the point that we are taking $ from our own family in order for their family to save $ all the time. I get trying to be helpful but don't do your own family a disservice. You are your family's sole provider.
You love children but you are also doing this to earn $. You need to continue to be profitable in order to stay open. So, do what you need to do in order to bring in the income you need.

I'm doing this to earn money but I also love children.

[Crazy8]

I dont care whats "fair" for the parents. I try to be respectful and professional but I dont worry about making decisions based on what is based for the parents. Dont give them all this leeway in making the decision. You tell them what YOU want and need in order to continue providing care. Give them a deadline to decide, I would say by this Friday. Either they can deal or they cant

I do agree with this but I don't think in a case where you the provider are changing the terms of the contract (since you agreed to their new hours/days) that you should only give them a few days to decide! Abide by your own contract, if you require 2 weeks or 30 days or whatever, give them the same courtesy.

[daycare]

I understand what you are all saying. I think where I am having the confusion is that I have 4 kids that are PT right now.....If all 4 of them are willing to go FT, how do I decide?

I am almost 100% sure that all 4 of them will jump to FT if I tell them it is the only way to continue to stay here....BUT I don't have 4 FT spot available.....I would only have 2 at this time, i dont have 4 ft spots..

Second, who do I chose to move??

example.....

kid 1...........attends m and tuesday
kid 2 also wants to attend M and Tue.....they used to be wed-thr-fri (back half of kid 1)

kid 3 attends M-Wed-Th
Kid 4 Attend Tue-Wed-th

I think one of my other concerns is that the new family that is coming in that is creating the issue of needing to move the schedules, what if they have horrible children and I just took them on to let go of clients that I KNOW have worked well here for the last 2 years.....

OH the decisions..........I think I will have to base it off seniority

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I do agree with this but I don't think in a case where you the provider are changing the terms of the contract (since you agreed to their new hours/days) that you should only give them a few days to decide! Abide by your own contract, if you require 2 weeks or 30 days or whatever, give them the same courtesy.

I'm sure she would.

[daycare]

I'm sure she would.

yes I would abide by my contract and give everyone a 14 day advance notice...

[Unregistered]

I would keep the 2 youngest ..

[daycare]

I would keep the 2 youngest ..

.....that was my thought as well....I think that this would make the most sense....BUT here is one other thing.......currently I only have two 4 year old chidlren in care...

just to throw a wrench into the frying pan, I had another family that wanted to leave because they thought that their 4 year old was the only one here and didn't want their child to be the only 4 year old.....I convinced them (they have 2 kids) to stay, that I had another 4 year old in my care and I would work with them on the same level of preschool.......soooo if I let go of my PT 4 year old, I risk losing my FT 4 year old and his brother who is 2.5.............................