Moving daycare down the road

[daycare]

I finally found a house... it is about 1.7 miles down the road. Very nice house, smaller, but a huge back yard.

I am going to tell the parents, but want to make sure that I am prep with answers for all of the parents.

I really dont think that any of my parents are going to leave or have an issue with it, but with my parents there is no telling.

I dont know how to address it? Do I tell them why?

I don't have anything in my PHB about it. So what I need to do is figure out if a parent decides that they don't want to stay, should I just stick with my 30 day notice?

They will be getting a 3 week notice.

Then there is cost and I WILL need to raise rates. I will be paying $1200 more a month and I will move down to tier 2 for the food program which means I will now get only about 1/2 amount of money I was getting before. I will be out of pocket about $1700. I know this is not their issue, but I need to be able to cover my cost.

any advice here would be great...

thanks so much

[KidGrind]

It will become their issue considering you’re raising your tuition.

My advice is tell them you’re moving to a new location 1.7 miles away. Give them any other pertinent information:

Fees going up
If you will close during your move and how long
If you have to wait to get reinspected to open in new location

If you feel the need to go into details why you’re moving, it totally your call. Good luck to you.

[NeedaVaca]

I would not do the 30 day notice since you are moving, it's not their fault or choice. When you let them know I would really talk up the back yard and all the new things you will incorporate with the new space

[NeedaVaca]

You might consider holding off on the rate increase for a few months if possible? Too many changes at once will increase the odds of some of them leaving...

[Annalee]

A meet/greet parent meeting kind of like an open house allowing parents to see what you have to offer would be nice. We did that when we moved into our large room...although we were connected to the house where daycare was in the living room, it was very different and parents were concerned with pricing as well because we had some investment. BUT when the parents seen the room and the benefits/learning their children would be exposed to, their fears were calmed. Just some ideas to keep things on a positive note for current clients.

[Leanna]

I would definitely put a positive spin on it. XYZ Daycare is moving to a new location! Great, new features include a larger backyard space for gross motor and outdoor learning.

Can you tie the move, the rate change, etc. into one "Changes at XYZ Daycare" memo?

I like the idea of an Open House too...makes parents feel like they know what is going on (not that they don't, just saying).

I would not explain why...especially since it is less than 2 miles away. I think the only real problem you will run into is if you need to close for the move...that is what parents will balk at IMHO.

[Annalee]

In TN, daycare licenses do NOT transfer which is why we stayed connected to the house. We were grandfathered in which I do not think happens anymore. We did daycare in the living room for 11 years then built the room in in 2003. I would hate to think of starting over....but as BC said in another post, we never know what can happen! Good luck to you in your move!

[daycare]

I will not need to close, I have everything lined up so that it goes smoothly.

Would someone help me with a letter.......

I decided that I am still going to just stick to my PHB and require the 30 day notice of termination if they want to leave.....

[SignMeUp]

We're Moving!!!

ABC daycare is moving to a new site!
Address
Phone
Date of move

Our new site will have a fantastic yard for kids to ____, _____, and _____.

We are going to LOVE having enough room for ___________.

It's going to be great!

Open House at the new site:
Date
Please let me know by email (or whatever) how many from your family will attend!

If the new site does not meet your needs, please remember that the normal ____day termination notice will apply.

[nanglgrl]

The only thing I would change is I wouldn't make parents give a 30 day notice if the new location doesn't work for them if your going to be moving in less than 30 days. So lets say you will be moving into the new home on June 27, I would tell them that if the new location doesn't work for them you are waving the 30 day notice requirement and changing it to 3 weeks since that's when the move will take place. I question this because the contract is with you for you to provide childcare at your current location, if you move I think in some ways you are voiding that contract. I had a job once that did something similar and I had to quit. The company fought paying unemployment but the judge sided with me saying that the change on their part was reason enough for me to quit since the new conditions were not what I had originally signed up for. .

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

The only thing I would change is I wouldn't make parents give a 30 day notice if the new location doesn't work for them if your going to be moving in less than 30 days. So lets say you will be moving into the new home on June 27, I would tell them that if the new location doesn't work for them you are waving the 30 day notice requirement and changing it to 3 weeks since that's when the move will take place. I question this because the contract is with you for you to provide childcare at your current location, if you move I think in some ways you are voiding that contract. I had a job once that did something similar and I had to quit. The company fought paying unemployment but the judge sided with me saying that the change on their part was reason enough for me to quit since the new conditions were not what I had originally signed up for. .

I agree.

As for the rate increase...holy cow, $1700 extra a month for you is crazy. How much of an increase were you thinking about?

[Crazy8]

The only thing I would change is I wouldn't make parents give a 30 day notice if the new location doesn't work for them if your going to be moving in less than 30 days. So lets say you will be moving into the new home on June 27, I would tell them that if the new location doesn't work for them you are waving the 30 day notice requirement and changing it to 3 weeks since that's when the move will take place. I question this because the contract is with you for you to provide childcare at your current location, if you move I think in some ways you are voiding that contract. I had a job once that did something similar and I had to quit. The company fought paying unemployment but the judge sided with me saying that the change on their part was reason enough for me to quit since the new conditions were not what I had originally signed up for. .

I agree with this. If I was not interested in moving to the new location for whatever reason I would not want to be forced into doing it for 1 week - would be way too much for the child too.

I moved while running my daycare, but was selling my house so my parents had plenty of notice of when it finally sold, when our closing date was, etc. They all moved to the new location with me without any more than doing a drive by on the new house because they were happy with my services but if I was moving somewhere they weren't happy with I wouldn't expect them to stay for 4 weeks when I'm giving them 3 weeks notice of the change.

[Chellieleanne]

I like what SignMeUp had posted for a simple letter to parents. I do have some comments(personal opinion) for you to consider.

I would be one annoyed parent if I had three weeks notice my care provider was moving but had to give four weeks notice to quit. I think two to three weeks notice for parents. That way they have time to decide if they want to stay or move with you before you actually move but have time to end notice before you move if it will be an issue. Just state due to circumstances the normal policy for 30 day notice is retracted for this move only. That way they see that it is not a change in your actual policy but just because of the move.

I also wouldn't raise rates right away if you can help it. Maybe make the rate change effective August or September and then just claim an annual increase due to increased cost or what ever you feel would be satisfactory to let parents know. And of course if you get new clients, charge them the higher rate before you have the increase change in place for current clients

Just some thoughts. I know similar things have been mentioned already. Good luck with your move and transitionhappyface