Large Family Daycare Requirements

[Calikate]

California -

Hi everyone just wondering the difference in requirements between opening a small home day care and a large family one? :confused:

Thank you!!

[BrooklynM]

You will need to operate a small family home daycare for at least one year before applying to be a large family provider in California. There are some fire code additions and some square footage outdoor requirements, etc. All of the information can be found here: http://www.ccld.ca.gov/pg411.htm

If you want any help with the licensing for small family, you can PM me for some tips. The process seems chaotic to say the least and the rules can vary based on your inspector and their interpertation of rules, but other than that, it's not too bad!

[TwinKristi]

Yep! Like she said, one year as a small daycare and then you can apply. Some places require you ask your neighbors or put a public notice up. Then you need a fire clearance and such but there's lots in my town so I don't think it's a big deal. You will need an assistant though and they'll have to be fingerprinted, take the licensing classes, etc.

[sharlan]

It all depends on your city. My city doesn't want large daycares so they have hefty charges along with "studies" to get approved.

[daycare]

sorry, I know CA has some grey understanding with their rules, but from what I understand, you do not need to have a small daycare for one year before you can upgrade to a large.

When applying for a license as a large family child care home, substantiation that the provider has at least one year of experience as a regulated small family child care home operator; or one year of experience as an administrator or director of, or as a teacher at, a licensed child care center.

I would look at the community care LIc website to get all the details.

[Calikate]

Okay I will check out that website, thank you.

Yes I am a little confused. My mom and I will be operating the daycare together, She will have an apartment in the house we are building.

My first thought was if we were both licensed we could have more children. But it seemed that we would not be able to do this under the same address?

So then I thought maybe the large home daycare would be a route we could take?

We have not worked in daycare before we have both been high profile nannies (Me for the last ten years) my mom (for the last 20) so I am not sure if that would qualify.

Trying to navigate all this is tough!! I greatly appreciate the help!!!

:hug:

[Margarete]

You can apply for an "exception" (see page 3) http://www.ccld.ca.gov/res/pdf/Famil...tionsGuide.pdf
I would like to think that that documented experience would count, but probably depends on the personal opinion of whoever approves it in your area.

[Calikate]

wow soooo helpful I will read over this now Thank you so much.:hug:

[Calikate]

How many children/infants are allowed in a small daycare vs large?

[TwinKristi]

This has a good visual of the limits.

http://www.ccld.ca.gov/res/pdf/CapacityRequirementsFCCH.pdf