Teachers for Summer?

[TwinKristi]

This has probably been asked 1000 times but how do you handle summer vacation with teachers? I have an interview Wed with a teacher couple for a newborn in Feb, but summers off. So Feb-June and then no Summer and then start again in Aug. they don't live far from me so I was thinking of doing a one day a week minimum, I have heard of some doing 2 but it's a higher rate so that may be quite a lot for the whole summer, to not only keep his place but keep him familiar with me being so young. I wouldn't mind having summers light with all my kids home, but I don't want to go 8-10wks without having a young baby. I'm sure that will Play a role in her decision and I'm so slow right now I would really like to have a shot at this baby!

[Annalee]

This has probably been asked 1000 times but how do you handle summer vacation with teachers? I have an interview Wed with a teacher couple for a newborn in Feb, but summers off. So Feb-June and then no Summer and then start again in Aug. they don't live far from me so I was thinking of doing a one day a week minimum, I have heard of some doing 2 but it's a higher rate so that may be quite a lot for the whole summer, to not only keep his place but keep him familiar with me being so young. I wouldn't mind having summers light with all my kids home, but I don't want to go 8-10wks without having a young baby. I'm sure that will Play a role in her decision and I'm so slow right now I would really like to have a shot at this baby!

I am limited to 12 spots due to licensing so my teacher clients pay 52 weeks/no break. They mail me a check! The spot is available to them but the teacher I have now just mails her check during the summer two weeks in advance.

[Blackcat31]

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

[KSDC]

I charge my teacher families a holding fee of about 1/4 of their normal weekly rate to hold their spot during week long vacations and over the summer break. I only do this because I know that I can fill those spots with SA kiddos (mainly DC graduates) during those times.

[spinnymarie]

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

I agree.
My teachers pay a slightly higher rate during the school year, and pay for all holidays during the school year, outside of winter, spring, and summer break. They end up paying for 40 full weeks at a higher rate. Over a year they pay about $1000 less than a full-timer of the same age - with my rates, that's about 88% of fulltime.

[TwinKristi]

Thanks girls! I will talk to her Wed and see what works best!

[jenn]

I move them to part time, which is a 3 day minimum per week. I encourage them to bring the child at least once per week, but really leave that up to them. They pay for 3 days per week to hold their spot.