Teachers

[BabyMonkeys]

I am interviewing a teacher family on Saturday and would like your advice on setting policies. I don't know what is "normal" procedure for teachers. Do you allow them to take school vacations off without payment? Do you charge a holding fee?

I would love to see a copy of your handbook and/or contract specifically for teachers.

Thanks!
Kristy

[Annalee]

I am interviewing a teacher family on Saturday and would like your advice on setting policies. I don't know what is "normal" procedure for teachers. Do you allow them to take school vacations off without payment? Do you charge a holding fee?

I would love to see a copy of your handbook and/or contract specifically for teachers.

Thanks!
Kristy

My teachers sign up on my 52 weeks a yr charge contract. They are treated just like anyone else who has a spot in my program.

[Soccermom]

It depends what you prefer really.
I prefer to not have the children during holidays and breaks so I can spend some quality time with my own children so I don't charge (If I did, they would surely bring them even though they are off)
Some people charge a 2-3 day per week fee during the summer.

If you are looking to fill a full time spot then by all means charge them just like everyone else but rest assured that even on breaks and holidays, the children will be at your door since they are paying for the service.

[daycare_jen]

I provide specifically for teacher families, so that I can have time off with my family, too. Some providers prefer to be lighter during the summer and other school breaks and don't charge for non-attendance, others will charge part time rates over the summer and allow the dck to come 2-3 days a week, and others will charge the full rate, and yes, if you charge, they will come. My sister-in-law goes to another dc that also only provides for teachers. She is a teacher in a different school district and is still taking her kids there while she is already out of school, care for her will not end until next week. so since she has to pay for it, her kids will be there.

sorry, didn't see previous post ^^^


also, regarding a holding fee... when first enrolling, I require a deposit that will be used to the last two weeks of care, if they are enrolling for the next year, the deposit can just be rolled over. My contract is the same as regular providers... It just has a care begins on the first teacher attendance date of the school district and ends on the last teacher attendance date of the school district calendar. (which may be changed due to make up days) The contract is valid upon signing, and I am requesting that the turn in the signed contract to me by the last day of the school year.

[Meeko]

Teachers are not special snowflakes any more than any other person who does seasonal work.

If I charge flat, unchanging rates to the construction worker who doesn't use me much during the winter because work is slower.......or the car salesman who is in a slump.... why would I cut a teacher a break during the summer? There is no difference.

In fact, the construction worker would be more likely to get a break from me if I did that sort of thing, because he is struggling more. Teachers still get paid for summers....either by steady check or by higher checks the rest of the year. Either way, they are covered. They are not "unemployed" over the summer.

They just want you to be......while they pocket the extra savings.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I ONLY reserve a summer spot for a teacher IF I have a child aging out of the program in the fall this time around. So, this year two spots are being saved and will be taken over once those kids go to Kinder. Next year I only have ONE child leaving for kinder so only ONE child will have their spot saved. That way I am not out any money.

I now expect for teachers to keep their child home on ALL school holidays for them. I tell them that I expect this and I will reserve their spot in the summer in return (for those that I actually can do this for...although, I only accept 2 teachers who take off in the summer at a time right now and will only take on another IF they stay for the summer). They still pay. It makes it more worth it to me since I am now noticing that all of my teacher kids, and coming in teacher kids, are a little crazy on the behavior side of things which is quite interesting. But, I have also noticed that they ALL have Grandma/Grandpa watch them before they come here so that could fully explain that...

[cheerfuldom]

I take as many teachers as I can and do not charge for winter, spring or summer break. I need the break and this next year, will have three schoolagers of my own and dont want to be tied down to the house with bored schoolagers so it works out well for me. Its about 50/50 here between whether other daycares will charge or not charge teachers but a lot of teachers will look for those providers that do not charge. My hours during this next school year will end at 4pm and I love that so to me, it is more than worth it to work for teachers. They pay in full for every week during the school year including holidays and I give myself two weeks paid vacation although I generally only take a few days. I have had a great experience with teachers kids as well.

[snbauser]

I have all school employees. As you can see from the different responses, it really is up to you on how you want to handle them. I switched to my current way of handling teachers because I wanted to attract as many as possible to give me as much time as possible with my kids when they were off from school. Our schools have 3 different types of days when kids are off of school - teacher workdays, annual leave days, and holidays. I am open for teacher workdays and closed for the other days. I don't get paid for annual leave days but do get paid for holidays. I also close at 5pm during the school year. Right now I am only closed for the month of July but reduce my schedule to a Mon-Thurs 7:30-4 schedule and in order to guarantee their spot for the fall, they must pay for that schedule. I hope to get to the point that I can close for the entire summer but right now I can't afford it and one of my families are actually 11 month school employees so they work through the end of June and go back the beginning of August.

I don't charge a holding fee but do require a non-refundable one weeks deposit to hold their spot for the fall. But I am typically just filling a spot from a child that is going to Kindy and that child is normally here at least through the middle of June.

[hope]

I love having teachers and I do give them perks for a few reasons. Most importantly I love their hours. They come early and pick up early. They also understand how important working with children is and understand the importance of a relationship between parent and provider because they too deal with communication issues with parents. I enjoy the fact that they take the same breaks as my children have from school so it allows me the extra time with my family. And......word of mouth advertising is awesome in schools! They refer other teachers and parents of their students.
All that being said, I do allow teachers to take their spring and fall break unpaid. I take winter break paid. I give a small discount in rates bc they use less hours of care. The small discount is so small it doesn't hurt the bank but makes them feel like they got a deal. They still pay for sick days. I do not charge for summers off but also don't guarantee their spots. Almost every year I take back the same clients bc we work so well together but I find it does keep them in line with my rules when they feel they need to fight for their spot. Most leave in June assured that they will have a spot in Sept bc we have created such a great bond.

[SignMeUp]

My only thought is that your policy should reflect how you feel about the things that you know come along with teachers' kids: holidays, breaks, summers, hours, etc.

When I've gotten frustrated in the past, it's because how I feel does not line up with my own policies. But it's changeable Just take the time to do it.

Example: I no longer wanted to support families who chose preschool when their children turn three. My feelings about this evolved as I spent more years in childcare.
So I stopped offering pick-up transportation. And my half-day rate is not much less than my full-day rate. Now those parents tend not to choose me: I don't make their day easier, and my program is a better financial fit for full days rather than half.

[e.j.]

I think much depends on what you can afford to do and how things are done in your local area.

I can't really afford to go the whole summer without being paid so I have the same policy for every parent, teacher or not. If they want a guaranteed spot for their child, they need to pay for it. This goes for summer vacations as well as school vacation weeks. Most of my teachers choose to pay and enjoy some "me" time during the summer. They get things done around the house that they wouldn't be able to do as easily if they had the kids around. Most understand my position and in all of my years of doing day care, I've only had one or two teachers who have interviewed with me and gone elsewhere to avoid paying through the summer.