Do I Have To Pay Full Tuition If Child Is Out Sick?

[ecemom]

The original poster said that she was calling the provider and giving her updates on her child, as a provider even if it wasnt discussed unless i had a WRITTEN notice from the parent then i would assume that they were coming back because of the updates and would hold the spot for them at the full fees that they agreed too..If mom had asked for a discount during any of the phone calls i would consider it IF the parent was a good client..If the mom hadnt called the daycare at all during that time then i would have implemented the 10 day no call no show termination, but thats not what happened,
As a mother of 4 i am constantly shocked and surprised at some of the things parents do/dont do for their children..
To the poster who said she would be taking her sick child to daycare to 'stick it to her provider' for charging for sick days, 'how awfull for you poor child', that you would make a child thats not feeling well attend anything rather than stay home like a good mother and nurish and care for your child is heartbreaking.. As a daycare provider, it's parents like you who are imature,irresponsible and disrespectful that causes so much illness in daycares. If a parent knowingly medicates a child to mask a sickness so they can attend my daycare is grounds for immidiate termination with the 2 weeks termination fee owed! By ringing sick kids you are not only exposing me my family but also all the hard working other families in my care..My first thought and worries are for the kids, i hate to see a child sick, and i am truly disgusted that parents,any parents would,will and do put their wallets before that of their kids..how sad..

I agree!!!

I also charge for days when the child does not come. I do offer my families 1 week per year of unpaid vacation if they schedule it ahead of time. The fact is that it is THE PARENT'S responsibility to communicate to the provider their intention to withdraw from care. If the parents are calling to update the provider of their child's status, that would indicate to me, as a provider, that they are going to be returning once the child is healthy enough, and thus, the 10 day abandonment rule, would not apply. Now if I hadn't heard from anyone in 10 days with an update, I would assume they were not coming back and I would fill the spot. In my opinion, the provider was being pretty understanding holding your spot for you for 5 weeks without payment. It is their right to request a quick payment plan. Sorry!

[Unregistered]

"PLease help me understand the logic in this, especailly when you are a responsilble parent and keep your kid out of daycare while he is feverish--again why am I paying for this? Help me want to keep my sick kid out of your daycare and not just have me give him a fever reducer right before I drop him off and then once the medicine wears off after 6 hours I get a call from the provider that he's sick and to come get him---at least I got my six hours--I feel like this is a tug of war and we have to meet somewhere in the middle."

This is why I, as a provider, have a half-rate policy for sick days. On days that a child is kept home because of sickness, I only charge half their regular rate. This way I don't go completely broke, but it gives a bit of an incentive to the parent to keep their child from infecting all of the other kids. I haven't had any long-term sickness-related absences yet, so I'll have to cross that bridge when I get to it. But I definitely would not want to penalize the good parents that do keep their kids home when they're sick.

[jen]

"This is why I, as a provider, have a half-rate policy for sick days. On days that a child is kept home because of sickness, I only charge half their regular rate. This way I don't go completely broke, but it gives a bit of an incentive to the parent to keep their child from infecting all of the other kids. I haven't had any long-term sickness-related absences yet, so I'll have to cross that bridge when I get to it. But I definitely would not want to penalize the good parents that do keep their kids home when they're sick.

Good grief! What is this world coming to? We need to provide parents with incentive to take care of thier kids! That breaks my heart. Thank God I don't have a single parent, now or in my 8 years of daycare experience, that needed an incentive to WANT to be with thier child when they are ill.

Personally, as a parent I would be ashamed to suggest that I would prefer to dump my sick child on someone else as opposed to shelling out a few dollars for daycare.

I wish people would consider these things BEFORE they had kids.

[canadiancare]

I charge for child's sick days and I don't charge for my sick days. My belief is that if I close you might end up out of pocket and need to make other arrangements so I don't charge. I will not be without my salary when your child is sick as others have posted my bills don't wait. I do think if you build a relationship with your provider and discuss the time your child will be away and try to work something out as early as possible rather than wait 5 weeks and be surprised they expected you to meet the terms of your agreement things would be easier now- maybe you'd have agreed on modified payment or maybe you'd have given your notice a month ago.

[mommabear]

Unfair!

My opinion on your initial question is that the provider is being a bit unreasonable. I understand that the daycare provider held a spot for the child, but whether you were in contact with them or not, after 10 days of a child being absent, they are deemed expelled. That's what it says in the contract, and that should hold up in a court of law. I wouldnt pay them a dime over those 10 days. I'd just find another daycare.

I have two daughters in daycare. I pay $300 every week, $1200 a month for child care. I wanted to take my daughters out for a WINTER holiday (1 week off for Christmas) and was told by my daycare provider that I will have to pay for that week. Going over the contract, I see that they only allow one week of vacation in the summer time. I think that is absolutely unreasonable and unfair. I gave the provider a FULL month's notice and the answer was I'd still have to pay.

[Meyou]

My opinion on your initial question is that the provider is being a bit unreasonable. I understand that the daycare provider held a spot for the child, but whether you were in contact with them or not, after 10 days of a child being absent, they are deemed expelled. That's what it says in the contract, and that should hold up in a court of law. I wouldnt pay them a dime over those 10 days. I'd just find another daycare.

I have two daughters in daycare. I pay $300 every week, $1200 a month for child care. I wanted to take my daughters out for a WINTER holiday (1 week off for Christmas) and was told by my daycare provider that I will have to pay for that week. Going over the contract, I see that they only allow one week of vacation in the summer time. I think that is absolutely unreasonable and unfair. I gave the provider a FULL month's notice and the answer was I'd still have to pay.

Why should the provider go without pay because you chose to take a vacation?

[mickey2]

This thread is almost 3 years old!

[SimpleMom]

The original poster said that she was calling the provider and giving her updates on her child, as a provider even if it wasnt discussed unless i had a WRITTEN notice from the parent then i would assume that they were coming back because of the updates and would hold the spot for them at the full fees that they agreed too..If mom had asked for a discount during any of the phone calls i would consider it IF the parent was a good client..If the mom hadnt called the daycare at all during that time then i would have implemented the 10 day no call no show termination, but thats not what happened,
As a mother of 4 i am constantly shocked and surprised at some of the things parents do/dont do for their children..
To the poster who said she would be taking her sick child to daycare to 'stick it to her provider' for charging for sick days, 'how awfull for you poor child', that you would make a child thats not feeling well attend anything rather than stay home like a good mother and nurish and care for your child is heartbreaking.. As a daycare provider, it's parents like you who are imature,irresponsible and disrespectful that causes so much illness in daycares. If a parent knowingly medicates a child to mask a sickness so they can attend my daycare is grounds for immidiate termination with the 2 weeks termination fee owed! By ringing sick kids you are not only exposing me my family but also all the hard working other families in my care..My first thought and worries are for the kids, i hate to see a child sick, and i am truly disgusted that parents,any parents would,will and do put their wallets before that of their kids..how sad..

Well said.

[frgsonmysox]

when I open my daycare I plan to have parents pay regardless of whether they show up or not. They are paying for their slot - it's their choice if they care to utilize it. I can't take other kids in to fill those spots that they don't come. I lose out on income if I don't charge regardless.

[Live and Learn]

I wanted to take my daughters out for a WINTER holiday (1 week off for Christmas) and was told by my daycare provider that I will have to pay for that week. Going over the contract, I see that they only allow one week of vacation in the summer time. I think that is absolutely unreasonable and unfair. I gave the provider a FULL month's notice and the answer was I'd still have to pay.

Yes, it is always best to refamiliarize yourself with your daycare contract BEFORE you make plans to take a winter vacation.

Your daycare provider is completely within her rights if you signed a contract.

[Half-Pint Hide-Out]

Here is my absence policy:

"Each child will receive one absence day per day(s) they are enrolled weekly. For example, if they are enrolled 3 days per week, they will receive 3 absence days per contracted year. After all the absence days are used, you will be charged your normal daily fee. If your child will be absent from Half-Pint Hide-Out, it is your responsibility to call me, or you will be charged for a full day, as well as the $20 no-call, n0-show fee.

For each contracted year, a family may take one vacation day for each day of the week they are contracted for. A two-week written notice of this vacation period is required. If no notice, or less than two-weeks notice, is given, you will be charged your usual weekly rate. If it is more than a week of vacation, you will be required to pay your normal rate to reserve your child/children’s place at Half-Pint Hide-Out.

For those who will be taking an extended leave from Half-Pint Hide-Out, such as teachers having summer off or those taking maternity leave, you will be required to pay a deposit of one week’s tuition before the leave starts in order to maintain your child/children’s spot at Half-Pint Hide-Out."

I also have a very strict illness policy to prevent myself and the other children in my care from becoming sick.

All the parents sign a contract and a handbook signature page saying the understand and agree to these guidelines. I have never had any issues with anyone being upset or not paying me.

[Michael]

Welcome to the Daycare.com Forum Half-Pint! I've upgraded your status. You can post freely now.

[Unregistered]

Yes you should pay when your child is sick because when you came back you expected

The daycare to still have a slot for you
it's only fair im also a daycare provider while the provider was out of your money for 5 weeks she could of had another client filling your slot you can't expect to still have a slot and not pay unacceptable


you should have contacted her and explain the situation its not her duty to call you should have talk to her so you could have fix the situation communication is key not enough parents communicate

[Unregistered]

Expecting payment for services not rendered is pure greed.

I understand if there is a contract, but this is clearly a scheme to milk parents for full payment even they are not utilizing the services. If your cable goes out, by law your cable company must pro-rate your bill, and if your child is out for a day or two they should be willing and able to pro-rate your daycare bill. This kind of ridiculous policy encourages parents to bring their sick kids to school, and in turn the whole place turns into a den of sickness. Sorry greedy proprietors, some of us expect to pay ONLY for what we use.

[CedarCreek]

I understand if there is a contract, but this is clearly a scheme to milk parents for full payment even they are not utilizing the services. If your cable goes out, by law your cable company must pro-rate your bill, and if your child is out for a day or two they should be willing and able to pro-rate your daycare bill. This kind of ridiculous policy encourages parents to bring their sick kids to school, and in turn the whole place turns into a den of sickness. Sorry greedy proprietors, some of us expect to pay ONLY for what we use.

What cable company do you have? Dish network goes out all of the time and I still have to pay them! If you don't want to pay your provider when your child is out sick, find a provider that will work with you on that issue. Problem solved. Calm your hate.