How Far Ahead Do You Seek Out Enrollments?

[Josiegirl]

I know I have 1 dcg leaving for school this next year, possibly 2. But knowing they're leaving end of August/early Sept. when would you start looking for new dcks?

I hate to even think about this. My group has been consistent for a few years and I love them. I hate it when that changes.

[childcaremom]

I know I have 1 dcg leaving for school this next year, possibly 2. But knowing they're leaving end of August/early Sept. when would you start looking for new dcks?

I hate to even think about this. My group has been consistent for a few years and I love them. I hate it when that changes.

I start as soon as I know I have an opening. I sometimes am a little hesitant to sign someone that early but if they are a perfect fit I would.

[Gemma]

I know I have 1 dcg leaving for school this next year, possibly 2. But knowing they're leaving end of August/early Sept. when would you start looking for new dcks?

I hate to even think about this. My group has been consistent for a few years and I love them. I hate it when that changes.

I usually stop turning potential clients away about 6 weeks before an opening becomes available...

[Blackcat31]

I interview continuously even when I don't have any available spaces or even any anticipated space coming up.

I have a wait list and those families that want to be on the wait list do a preliminary interview with me and then just wait for space/availability before moving to the next step.

I don't start actual prepping to fill a space until about a month prior to it being vacated.

[DaveA]

Usually 1 1/2- 2 months ahead of time if I know an opening is coming up.

[daycarediva]

I interview continuously even when I don't have any available spaces or even any anticipated space coming up.

I have a wait list and those families that want to be on the wait list do a preliminary interview with me and then just wait for space/availability before moving to the next step.

I don't start actual prepping to fill a space until about a month prior to it being vacated.

I do the continuous interviewing as well.

I enroll and pre-register families for an estimated start date, if I know a family as leaving, up to a year out.

[JackandJill]

I continually interview and keep a waitlist. I start going through the wait list about 4-6 weeks ahead of the space being open.

[daycare]

I interview continuously even when I don't have any available spaces or even any anticipated space coming up.

I have a wait list and those families that want to be on the wait list do a preliminary interview with me and then just wait for space/availability before moving to the next step.

I don't start actual prepping to fill a space until about a month prior to it being vacated.

Ditto. Exactly how I do it!

I have an email blast that I send out to all of my families on the wait list about 30 days prior to the spot opening. Normally by that time many people on my wait list have been waiting so long they move on. I always get about 1% of wait listed families still interested at that time.

Another thing to consider is do you have any partime families enrolled? Any time I have an opening, I always offer them the first right of refusal to go full time. Often they take my spots.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

When I had ONE inquiry for preschool for August of next year in September of this year...I began lightly advertising. By lightly, I mean I posted in one Mom's group that I'm scheduling tours and reserving spots for next year and I have a post pinned to my business Facebook page about it. Since then, I have filled most of my spots (I think it's 10 total) that will become available mid to late summer 2017. happyface

It definitely can't hurt to advertise lightly now!

In the past, I used to wait until the spring!

[AmyKidsCo]

I've got openings coming up next fall too but won't start trying to fill them until the summer. It's so long until next fall so I don't want to waste my time now when there's no guarantee that things won't change between now and fall.

[Jupadia]

I've started advertising for a spot for April now and one for next September. I know my DCG is moving away in April and my DS is starting kindergarden in Sept and in my province I can add another child in at that time. these spots are both gor 2+ and harder to fill do I'm already starting to advertise.

[renodeb]

As soon as I know I have an opening.
Deb