A Few Things - How To Handle It The Best Way

[nikia]

So first I thought I would update about the lead incident. The families did not bring me their check ups so they have not come back no loss there.

Second I have gone back to school and have a class starting in May, I will need to change my hours from 5:30 to 5:00. This will only effect one family for the most part. The dcm gets off of work at 3:30 but they either get here at 5:29 or 5:45 usually every other day is every other time. So my questions is how do I get them to be here at 5:00. I do not care about charging late fees because I have to get to my class which is 4 nights a week. I dont not think this family can be ontime as I dont think they have any respect for what I have in my life or things I need to do. Would you have it in your handbook that one time late and termination is effective immediately? Is that too harsh? I just really need this family to be on time, if they leave because of the time that is fine with me, but if they don't I have to count on them to be here at 5 not a minute later since I will need to get my own kids around and off to their sitter until my husband gets them. So any other ideas would be great Thanks ladies

[nannyde]

If you need them to be there by five then you need to have your pick up time be 4:30. ALWAYS allow a half hour difference between what you need and what time you give them.

Set it at 4:30 and then lay REALLY heavy late fees paid on the spot.

[DCMomOf3]

If you need them to be there by five then you need to have your pick up time be 4:30. ALWAYS allow a half hour difference between what you need and what time you give them.

Set it at 4:30 and then lay REALLY heavy late fees paid on the spot.

this! I've been stuck too many times to not agree.

[daycare]

So first I thought I would update about the lead incident. The families did not bring me their check ups so they have not come back no loss there.

Second I have gone back to school and have a class starting in May, I will need to change my hours from 5:30 to 5:00. This will only effect one family for the most part. The dcm gets off of work at 3:30 but they either get here at 5:29 or 5:45 usually every other day is every other time. So my questions is how do I get them to be here at 5:00. I do not care about charging late fees because I have to get to my class which is 4 nights a week. I dont not think this family can be ontime as I dont think they have any respect for what I have in my life or things I need to do. Would you have it in your handbook that one time late and termination is effective immediately? Is that too harsh? I just really need this family to be on time, if they leave because of the time that is fine with me, but if they don't I have to count on them to be here at 5 not a minute later since I will need to get my own kids around and off to their sitter until my husband gets them. So any other ideas would be great Thanks ladies

I had the same issue as well ....went back to school and the time I needed to be there effected one of my families.. I talked to them about it months in advance. I only go two nights a week and it effects them both nights. I asked them would it be possible for you to change your schedule? they said yes. I then told them my class rules, which are if I am late more than 3 times I get dropped....my teacher is strict... I told them should this happen due to them being late, they will also be dropped.... so far 1 month into school and no late show ups yet.... I also changed the late fee from $1.00 a min to $5.00 for every 2 minutes that they are late. Payment must be made at the time of pick up or pack your bags....

[nikia]

My other thought was changing to contracted hours. Or do you think that would be more of a pain? Since the mom gets off at 3:30 really there is no reason for her to not be here at 4:00 IMO.

I do like the idea of having it 30 mins before I actually need them to be there. Thanks Nan.

I also like that daycare drops them if she is dropped from her class if its because they are late.

Thank you great ideas

[daycare]

My other thought was changing to contracted hours. Or do you think that would be more of a pain? Since the mom gets off at 3:30 really there is no reason for her to not be here at 4:00 IMO.

I do like the idea of having it 30 mins before I actually need them to be there. Thanks Nan.

I also like that daycare drops them if she is dropped from her class if its because they are late.

Thank you great ideas

I use contracted times.... how i set it is in the first two week trail I allow for them to see what works best for their schedule. Let them figure out their commute time there and back and etc... No child is allowed to attend the daycar for more than 9.5 hours a day...anything over 9.5 hours is charged at the rate of $7.50 per hour. once their two weeks is up, I sit with them and ask them what they think work best for both and has to work for the both of us... This then will be their mandatory drop off and pick up times...

I don't have any child currently in my care for more than 9hrs a day

[squareone]

If you need them to be there by five then you need to have your pick up time be 4:30. ALWAYS allow a half hour difference between what you need and what time you give them.

Set it at 4:30 and then lay REALLY heavy late fees paid on the spot.

I so wish I had known to do this before I opened. As new clients come in I will be making the pickup time at 5:30 so that I can absolutely be done by 6pm including the occasional late pickup.

Considering the op's particular circumstance, I think that it's fair to drop them after they are late once. Save for the occasional major car accident, you usually know in advance if you won't be making it to the daycare on time. If they find themselves running late they should call one of their contacts to make sure their children are still picked up on time.