Keeping in Touch with Fall Enrollees

[AmyKidsCo]

I have 2 children enrolled to start in early September and am not sure how much to keep in touch with them. I have a public FB page they could follow (I don't know if they did) and added them to my monthly emailed newsletter. I figured I'd email about 2 weeks before their start date to see how the paperwork is going, but should I email them more than that?

I've never had families enroll this far ahead of time - how often do you contact families who aren't starting for a while?

[Cat Herder]

I have enrollees (full paperwork already in hand with scheduled start date) and a couple will-calls for my openings in June 2018. I plan to check in via email with them around February in respective order.

All know there are others waiting and they are requested to let me know ASAP if they decide to let their slot go to someone else. All enrollees are also added to our private facebook page along with current clients (will-calls and wait-listers are not added to that) so far one has passed on a reserved slot. The parents become a pretty fun little community by start date.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I have enrollees (full paperwork already in hand with scheduled start date) and a couple will-calls for my openings in June 2018. I plan to check in via email with them around February in respective order.

Wow. That's impressive.

[rosieteddy]

I would contact now.Ask them to have all paperwork in 2 weeks ahead of start date.That way you are sure they are still coming.I always had first 2 weeks non refundable tuition to hold spots..

[Cat Herder]

Wow. That's impressive.

Thank you for that but, IMHO, it speaks more to a lack of legal home childcare providers in my county.

My being a QRIS home provider, in my area, is also a rarity. It is a relatively new expectation here. Most experienced home providers were pushed out of licensing due to new education requirements of non-transferable credits that did not exist until recently. They can't financially afford to go back to school and find the thought of taking that time from family ridiculous after 10-30 years of hands on experience; so they operate illegally.

I stayed full back in the day as well, just not quite so far in advance. I have never had to turn so many away before, though. That is new in the last 3 years.

[kendallina]

I always have families submit paperwork when they ask to hold a spot. Typically I do this in March for an August start (preschool).

Like you, I add them to my facebook page and I tell them that I'll contact them mid-summer to check in. Mid summer I send a welcome email that to all families. It reminds them of what to bring on the first day, parking, drop-off and pick-up reminders. At the end of every email I ask that they respond to the email so I know they received it.

This works pretty well. I very very rarely (I think it's happened once) had someone enroll then later let me know they're not coming.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

This past year I had students pre-enroll up to a year in advance. If I updated any policies I e-mailed them that. Otherwise, I asked that the paperwork be returned at least 1 week in advance, reminded them what was due, and reminded them of their start date and what was needed on that day.

To reserve the spot they've already given me the final two week's tuition payment and the enrollment form.

[AmyKidsCo]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the ideas!

Now to fill that last opening...