Can a Private Childcare Provider/Center Owner Compete in 2020?

[Cat Herder]

I have noticed that some of the families that opted for the free pre-k option are struggling to find care during those off days where preschool is closed, holidays and summer care.

I refuse to take a preschool aged child that is enrolled in universal pre-k during those off days. For one I refuse to be the one that fills in the blanks for the family that opted to go that route....their choice so their issue to manage...

I am seeing the same thing here. They close a lot, more than the public schools. They are also doing mandatory home visits that feel very invasive. Most require them to pay for after-care and meals now that funding has been cut as well. I have also heard of a pilot program that goes back to only 4 days a week, no Fridays, some half-days. :confused:

I have had some parents beg to come back after they leave for free, but I don't re-enroll, either. It is simply too much work to correct the behaviors of both child and adult and move people around from the waitlist. I must add them to the back of the line, it is only fair. Loyalty is valuable.

[Josiegirl]

For now, there seems to be enough need on all sides here to go around. Home daycares are full, centers are full. If anything it's the preschool classes within the school systems that have taken the hit a little bit. But then again, some of the centers are offering preschool now so that might be why.

It seems there are still so many parents in my area, that prefer a smaller home like environment for their children. Plus they realize how difficult it is to find care for school vacations if they don't pay for a year round spot.

It'd be truly sad to push home daycare right out of parents' options because well, so many parents don't like throwing their little ones into such large group settings.

The only places in our area that have many openings are *those* places that are only used as a last resort.

[Unregistered]

For now, there seems to be enough need on all sides here to go around. Home daycares are full, centers are full. If anything it's the preschool classes within the school systems that have taken the hit a little bit. But then again, some of the centers are offering preschool now so that might be why.

It seems there are still so many parents in my area, that prefer a smaller home like environment for their children. Plus they realize how difficult it is to find care for school vacations if they don't pay for a year round spot.

It'd be truly sad to push home daycare right out of parents' options because well, so many parents don't like throwing their little ones into such large group settings.

The only places in our area that have many openings are *those* places that are only used as a last resort.

I think it's fair play, though. I don't understand how parents come and want the biggest and best for lowest cost and make complaints over minor things because they feel they can bully us. When it's free, they let the schools be children zoos. Unless they want to go private, they know to keep their mouth shut in the pubic schools. I think many parents are get their just desserts. Here, many of the families get kicked out of charter schools.

[Country Kids]

Less than a 1/2 a mile from me is the new HS School that has all day classes.

The elementary school for my area of town has a HS class (the elementary school is probably a mile or two from my house) plus a free Preschool also. So one elementary school has HS in it and a free Preschool.

Our town also has the HS birth to three program.

Our area also has what is known has Preschool Promise.

All these are free programs that are beyond full. Plus at a conference I was at this was a class on this and they also said the income level is around $60,000 to quality.

[PB&J]

Less than a 1/2 a mile from me is the new HS School that has all day classes.

The elementary school for my area of town has a HS class (the elementary school is probably a mile or two from my house) plus a free Preschool also. So one elementary school has HS in it and a free Preschool.

Our town also has the HS birth to three program.

Our area also has what is known has Preschool Promise.

All these are free programs that are beyond full. Plus at a conference I was at this was a class on this and they also said the income level is around $60,000 to quality.

Have you noticed an effect on your business? Have you had to change your program as a result? We haven’t, but we have always offered a kindergarten-ready program. Parents lately have been expressing that it has made a difference (positively) in their decision to choose us, so I imagine that if we didn’t offer it before, we may have needed to.

[Meeko]

So far, I haven't had any problem at all filling spots, despite plenty of the free pre-k programs popping up.

During interviews, I have always stressed the "home" part of my business. I want the kids to feel like this is a home away from home, not "school".

I make sure parents know their child will never be just a number here. They will be greeted by the same caring faces every day. Here, their kids will be hugged and loved and will play with friends they get to think of as siblings.

If they are looking a "school" for their kids...this is not the place. I offer a safe and loving HOME enviroment.

So as I offer a totally different kind of care, I'm not too worried about the free care places.

I HAVE received many calls from parents who regret grabbing at "free". They are frantically trying to find care for holidays, teacher development days etc.

[dolores]

With the growing trend to have 3-4 year old children in public/government sponsored preschools, do you think private (LEGAL) providers will still exist?

If they do will they be able to compete at all?

Could you operate and be successful with only Infants and Toddlers? Even when they continue to lower the ratios for ONLY private centers?

We serve children ages 2yo to 5yo. The trend in my nabe since UPK started is children are leaving my program when they turn 4 to attend public PreK. As a result, families stay with us for 2 years instead of 3 like before. Another trend is that increasingly, parents are seeking part-time i.e. 2 or 3 days a week and actually splitting a full time spot into 2 part time spots brings in more revenue as I charge more for part-time spots.
There is a shortage of infant and young toddler programs in my area because they reduce license capacity, require more staff and plus they are more work! However, for this reason, you can charge significantly more for this age group and I know of home daycares that are successful doing so.