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Why is it so difficult for me to get a straight answer out of some of my families as to whether or not their kiddos are heading into a preschool program in the fall? It's like they think I'll be offended or unhappy with them if they tell me straight out that their kids are going to a full time preschool program in the fall. I don't care guys, I would just like to know what I have for potential openings in the fall! Inquiries are coming in like crazy.
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I would just give them a deadline to "re-enroll" with you for the fall. If they haven't enrolled by x date, their space is not held.
I keep a list of all potential clients and tell them that I give my current clients until June 1 to secure a spot for fall. After that time, I start making contact with my wait list families. -
Do you get any arguments from the families in regards to the 2 week notice guideline, if you have that?
I have a family who has a boy turning 3 in August, and I know they've toured preschools/headstart programs since February. I specifically asked them what their intentions were and they said they "did not know" and then commented that they have plenty of time because I only require a 2 weeks notice.Comment
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well, that seems a little dirty! I personally don't care about the 2 week notice. (although it is in my contract that they give 2 weeks notice) If they want to leave, so be it and the sooner the better I say. I have a waitlist so I've never really worried about not being able to replace them if they leave unexpectedly.Comment
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Is it possible that their child isn't potty trained and needs to be for preschool? Then they're waiting to see if they can train him in time.
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I think this is probably true for a lot of parents. I also think parents are afraid that if they tell you they're planning to enroll their child in preschool for the fall, you may find a replacement for their spot and term them before they're ready to leave.Comment
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I think this is one of the big issues. I ask parents to please give me as much notice as possible as a courtesy, although "technically" they can just give the 2 weeks. I try to just be honest and assure them that they will have a spot until school starts and to please let me know early as I get most of my calls for Sept. care over the summer. 90% of my families have always been open and honest, but of course I've had a few that just ****, LOL. I do encourage preschool at about 3.5, and am always open with families about the good preschools in the area, how ready their child is, etc. I think that helps a little that they don't feel like I am going to be mad that they are leaving.Comment
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most preschools do enrollment in the spring. Just say I need to know if I am going to be able to feed my family in the fall If your child is going to preschool I need to know now so I can fill the opening when people call in the summer.It:
: will waitComment
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Most parents probably don't tell you they are leaving because they don't want to be forced out sooner than they want to go...kwim?
If I secured preschool in the Fall for my youngster, I would not tell my provider we were leaving because then I would feel like she would want us gone now rather than later so that she could fill the space with a more permanent child.
If you only require a 2 week notice, then really that is all parents are obligated to give and more than likely that is all they'll give.
It ****s for our end of it but I totally understand why parents do it.Comment
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This is quite possible, although according to them the dcb is potty trained at home and they have no idea why he is not here. He gets placed on the potty every hour at home, and while I have scheduled bathroom breaks for my potty training kiddos, he does not express the need to go potty ever, not even sometimes, so therefor is not potty trained. According to them this was not an issue for some of the preschools they looked into.
I could understand that if I didn't already have 2 kids planning on leaving, which these moms are aware of, and nothing has ever been said or implied regarding moving the kids out sooner since they were leaving in the fall. I have 2 families lined up with deposits placed for those two spots opening in August. I would just like to have the security of their spot being filled with a deposit if they are planning on leaving, y'know?
I did let the moms know that while a 2 week notice is what is required, a heads up as soon as they make a final decision would be greatly appreciated. They just kinda blank stared at me. If you're going to sit there and tell me about all the preschools you're touring and the time you're taking off work to do so, the least you could do is let me know what's going on...
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My program is a little different but I only do preschool and prek - so 3's and 4's. Although my contract requires a 30 days notice to terminate, I send home a notice the end of Feb. They have until April 15th to tell me if their kid is staying/coming back in the fall. I am closed for roughly the month of July. In my notice I tell them that if they do not return the notice, I will take that as their last day being when I close the end of June. No problems so far. Now of course with a 30 days notice, they could tell me yes by April 15th and then at then end of June tell me no, but I haven't had that happen yet.Comment
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Our local preschool is a lottery system. 3 times the amount apply than actually get in. Here at least they don't let you know if you got accepted until the end of June.Comment
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That's not how it works here. We have public preschools through the school district (5 early childhood centers total), as well as private preschools through centers or churches, and federally funded headstart programs. We have a lot of options for preschools.
I can understand if you're waiting - not knowing whether you were accepted or not - or if they had not disclosed information to me at all in an open manner, however I hear from both parents regularly how they've taken this day off and that day off to tour preschools, they've told me what they think of them, but are refusing to let me know if they even decided to choose preschool this year or wait until next year. When I ask outright it's, "Oh well, I don't know... you just don't want him to leave!" Uhm, no - I just want to know whether to be expecting his spot to be open for the fall or not.Comment
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I have one like this, as well. She has mentioned that there is a public preschool in her town, and wants dcg to get to know some kids in her hometown before K. I have asked many times casually for a date that it might start, and I get things like, "Oh, I haven't really looked too far into it", as well as the contradictory, "I don't plan on moving dcg until K". I really, really like this family, and want them to stay, so I am just kind of going with it for now.
I think it is a combination of what BC says, and the fact that they don't want to lose their spot if their plans don't work out perfectly. If I did need a decision so I could take on another family, I would suggest what another member suggested above, and put a deadline for them to let you know.Comment
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