Paying For The Gap

[daycare]

one of the things about being a large daycare is being able to schedule everyone so that there are no gaps or over lapping.

I have finally got my whole schedule figured out but do have this situation and I want to see what you ladies think.

I have two families that want part time...... they both only want two days a week.....

family 1.............monday and tuesday
family 2 .........thursday and friday

nobody on wednesday


I tired to get one of them to pick up that wednesday, but neither of them want to. so my thought is since I can't and won't fill that one empty day, is that I split the cost of that day and charge family 1&2 the cost of it....

so if it were $30 a day, then that would mean the families are going to have to pay $15 extra a week. They can not use the spot on wednesday..........

I know this seems steep. What do you guys think?

[Margarete]

Seems pretty reasonable. A lot of providers charge more per day for part time care, and some also have a 3/week day minimum charge. Hope it works out.

[mom2many]

I would do this and think it is totally fair.

[snbauser]

What I have done for part time rates in the past is take my full week rate and divide it by 4 for exactly this reason. It is really hard to back fill spots. I think that although it would be nice to have them split the day that you need to look at how you advertised/interviewed. If you offered 2 days/week then it really isn't fair to make them pay for the third day.

[butterfly]

Are these families that have been with you for a while? Have they been paying a particular rate previously? I don't see an issue with charging that way if they aren't used to something else - even then you should be able to change it and charge this way with notice.

I can see either of them throwing fits if they aren't accustomed to this though.

From a provider standpoint, I think this is an excellent idea and a great compromise. - I only charge a weekly rate regardless of attendence, so this is more than fair in my book.

[daycare]

thanks for the input ladies.


family 1 has been with me for almost 2 years attending only 2 days a week M-T. They were just recently warned that they may need to move days so that I still accommodate them. They said they can't. I feel a little frustrated that they are not willing to move days, but I understand that they need to do what works for their family...I think it is fair to say well since you are not willing to move days the only way I can keep you is to charge this new way....

Lucky for them I have a new client coming in who wants to attend TH-FR.

[Blackcat31]

thanks for the input ladies.


family 1 has been with me for almost 2 years attending only 2 days a week M-T. They were just recently warned that they may need to move days so that I still accommodate them. They said they can't. I feel a little frustrated that they are not willing to move days, but I understand that they need to do what works for their family...I think it is fair to say well since you are not willing to move days the only way I can keep you is to charge this new way....

Lucky for them I have a new client coming in who wants to attend TH-FR.

What happens if the new client needs to switch days or leaves after only a short while?

I think your payment idea works great IF these two families are going to be long term and not need to switch days ever or leave....

Otherwise, I think this will be trouble the second someone's needs change. kwim?

I offer part time care but I offer it on MY schedule NOT theirs. I offer

3 days (SET 3 days) Space is guaranteed
*for a specific rate (high enough that not having a kid 2 days a week is nice but the rate is high enough that I am not really losing money)

3 days (varying days) Space is guaranteed
*for a specific rate (high enough that not having a kid 2 days a week is nice but the rate is high enough that I am not really losing money)

Anything under 3 days a week is considered drop in. The drop in rate is high and the spaces for drop in is varying so I sometimes have space to accommodate their needs and sometimes I don't.

It's simply the risk they take by not being enrolled at 3 days per week.

[daycare]

What happens if the new client needs to switch days or leaves after only a short while?

I think your payment idea works great IF these two families are going to be long term and not need to switch days ever or leave....

Otherwise, I think this will be trouble the second someone's needs change. kwim?

I offer part time care but I offer it on MY schedule NOT theirs. I offer

3 days (SET 3 days) Space is guaranteed
*for a specific rate (high enough that not having a kid 2 days a week is nice but the rate is high enough that I am not really losing money)

3 days (varying days) Space is guaranteed
*for a specific rate (high enough that not having a kid 2 days a week is nice but the rate is high enough that I am not really losing money)

Anything under 3 days a week is considered drop in. The drop in rate is high and the spaces for drop in is varying so I sometimes have space to accommodate their needs and sometimes I don't.

It's simply the risk they take by not being enrolled at 3 days per week.

ooohhhh I did not think of this at all.....this is why I need this form.......

great point... I do charge a higher rate for part spots, but was not sure how I could make up for that whole........

back to the drawing board...........

[Blackcat31]

ooohhhh I did not think of this at all.....this is why I need this form.......

great point... I do charge a higher rate for part spots, but was not sure how I could make up for that whole........

back to the drawing board...........

I PM'ed you my rate sheet so you can see what I mean on paper.

It makes more sense that way.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I would do as you said and split the cost.

[Willow]

I don't take part timers but I do charge a weekly minimum of 20 hours for my full time families.

Something like that might work well because then you're still getting a full 40 hours in each week between the two. Or if you do flat rates cut the regular rate in half for each so it doesn't look like they're paying for a day they don't have access to.

[daycare]

I don't take part timers but I do charge a weekly minimum of 20 hours for my full time families.

Something like that might work well because then you're still getting a full 40 hours in each week between the two. Or if you do flat rates cut the regular rate in half for each so it doesn't look like they're paying for a day they don't have access to.

thanks guys I will check out the rate sheet..


Willow. so when you say 20 hours, how many days would that allow a child to attend...Sorry I have massive jet lag right now.....

[Crazy8]

ooohhhh I did not think of this at all.....this is why I need this form.......

great point... I do charge a higher rate for part spots, but was not sure how I could make up for that whole........

back to the drawing board...........

If you already charge more for the part time spot aren't you essentially already making a full weekly rate (or close to it) by having each of them 2 days a week??? That has always been my reason for charging more for p/t.

For instance say your f/t rate is $125/week and your p/t rate is $30/day. If each family is taking 2 days a week that is $120 - so only $5/week less than a full timer is paying and you get the break of less kids one day.

If I were to do what you were proposing with current families I would NOT word it that way at all. I would just explain that due to their p/t schedule their rate will be increasing $15/week. I would not word it as them paying for half of Wednesday - that is just opening a can of worms.

[Willow]

thanks guys I will check out the rate sheet..


Willow. so when you say 20 hours, how many days would that allow a child to attend...Sorry I have massive jet lag right now.....

What are your hours?

If you're open ten hours a day tell them it's access to a total of twenty hours (a contracted two days), so that's what they're paying for.

Leaves you getting paid for a full 40 hours while still keeping that Wednesday off (and even open to taking another part timer if you can find someone who just wants care on Wednesdays).

[Cradle2crayons]

I don't do any part time at all. I do drop ins only on MY TERMS. I also do overnight.

But what you are proposing sounds extremely fair to me!!

I also agree that I would add both of their rates. Minus the full time charge, and then half it for each family.

If I did part time, 2 days a week I'd charge hefty for it because it would be near impossible for me to fill that.