Assistant

[CraftyMom]

I am still new to having an assistant for fill-ins (dr appointments and such).

Do you notify the parents ahead of time when using an assistant? Each time?

I gave everyone a memo back in May that I now have an assistant and she will fill in for me occasionally. She also attends field trips and sometimes just comes over. I offered for everyone to meet her, only one did.

I am leaving at 4:00 today, my assistant will be here from 4-4:30 (pick up). I sent everyone a text letting them know. Was this sufficient? Or do I even need to do this?

It was last minute arrangements that led to me leaving early today, otherwise I may have texted them yesterday

I don't see any regulation about this, only that the parents have the opportunity to meet her

[holly333]

I think now that you've told the parents she'll be there, you should be alright. Maybe next time you could text that she'll be there and may be at other pick up/drop offs in the future. I give a heads up to my parents if they're new but once they've been coming awhile they get to know her and expect it here and there. Only time I've had a problem with parents/helper was when they didn't realize I actually left, they thought that she was just assisting me. I told them she had had a background check and gave them references for her and that was that. So maybe be sure your parents understand that she will be alone with the kids.

[daycare]

so they are not shocked, I tell the parents any time I will be off site at least 24 hours in advance, if not more notice.

I don't want them to show up and be like Where is Ms.N.....

I have 4 assistants 3 of them have been with me for some time now and I still always tell parents 2 weeks in advance when possible of any time I will be gone or I will tell them 24 hours in advance.

If you can't offer a notice, then I think what you did was just fine...

[hope]

I would let them know in advance...maybe on a sheet going home or mention at pick up the day prior. Of its last minute emergency a text is fine as long as you state that you had something come up.

You should be aware that many of the parents are going to use that time alone with your sub at pick up to question them in regards to the daycare, them and you. I try to prepare my subs for this so they are not ambushed.

[daycare]

I would let them know in advance...maybe on a sheet going home or mention at pick up the day prior. Of its last minute emergency a text is fine as long as you state that you had something come up.

You should be aware that many of the parents are going to use that time alone with your sub at pick up to question them in regards to the daycare, them and you. I try to prepare my subs for this so they are not ambushed.

thats also a good point. My assistants do NOT tell parents about their days, they do not answer questions about their children either.

I have them say, I am sorry, I am not sure you will have to check with Ms. N.

I will contact the parents if there are any issues, otherwise no news is GREAT news

I do this so that no one is misinformed, nothing lost in communication or a problem come up. I have a report book that I have my assistants fill out at their end of their shift if I am not here that way I will know what happened that day if anything.

[CraftyMom]

Thanks guys!

[DaveA]

thats also a good point. My assistants do NOT tell parents about their days, they do not answer questions about their children either.

I have them say, I am sorry, I am not sure you will have to check with Ms. N.

I will contact the parents if there are any issues, otherwise no news is GREAT news

I do this so that no one is misinformed, nothing lost in communication or a problem come up. I have a report book that I have my assistants fill out at their end of their shift if I am not here that way I will know what happened that day if anything.

This- it helps to have 1 "voice" from your program to avoid misunderstandings. As for notice- I give as much as I can with a reminder the week and the day before. If it is an emergency I send a text to everyone. Doesn't really matter how much notice I give- I could tape it to their windshield for a month and I would have at least a parent stunned I'm not there.

[AmyKidsCo]

If I know ahead of time I'll tell them, but there have been situations where I've had to go in or take one of my kids in unexpectedly. In that case I don't let them know - if my sub is here at pick-up I let her explain, otherwise I'll let the parents know at pick up that the sub was here for a while then left.