Changing Policy With No Advance Notice

[nannyde]

It is a large daycare spanning from infant to after school and the notice was very clear that they would not allow children to be dropped off after 10 a.m. They used the statement strict enforcement in bold several times.
There was free range drop off prior to this and they are open until 6 p.m. On normal days he is dropped off by 7:15, but most of his Dr's don't open until 9.

We had an issue once before when he came home in his extra outfit and when I went to wash his clothes realized they had bleach all over the back of them. We asked at drop off and pick up to speak to the director and after 2 weeks one of the aides tried to give me $20 and said she was told to pay us personally because it was her fault. The director never returned our calls or met with us then so I don't have much hope that we will be allowed "audience" with her now.

A year ago she was around all the time, now we never see her.

Wow what area do you live in that the Centers can be SO bold? They must have people knocking their doors down to get in.

Time to switch day care.

Sorry to hear about your home care experience. This is why I don't allow the older kids NEAR my babies.

[Unregistered]

Whenever I change any policies I give a one months notice, I put it in writting and have them sign that they acknowledge the change. That sounds very unprofessional. Schedule a meeting with the director. Im sure you wont be the only parent with concerns. Any change should be added to the contract not a sign on a door. Let us know what happens.

[Unregistered]

I work in a center and find it VERY DISRUPTIVE when a parent drops off late morning. As we have schedualed activities. However, if I knew ahead of time that this was a due to medical apts NOT A BOTHER as I understand that.

Did you feel that this was a personal attack at you? Maybe they are not targeting you but that there are multiple families that do this.

Yes I agree that this should be put into a new policy book and not done with a tacky sign.

[melskids]

i can understand the policy, to a point. i'm sure it is pretty disruptive for numerous families to drop off during lunch or nap time. its been my experience that children dropped off right before nap have slept in until late morning, and won't nap with the rest of the children, as they are not tired. for me, its not such a big deal, but in a center, when teachers are going to lunch/break during nap, and trying to maintain ratio, i can see their frustration.

however, how they handled it is extremely unprofessional and not acceptable.

i would look for new care.

[Unregistered]

May have to report this one

Seems to me that what they're doing isn't proper. I would attempt to discuss this with the director to see if they can exempt your child due to medical appts, but be sure to get this in writing and share this info with your child's teachers. If that doesn't get you anywhere, I would call your state's licensing and file a complaint. There may be a lot of parents violating their scheduled drop off time policy without calling in and providers have to call the emergency list if your child doesn't show up within so much time after the scheduled drop off time. Unfortunately, you may be falling victim to other family's shortcomings. You may have to call licensing or your state's ADA office. Your child is medically disabled and legally, they have to accomodate him, but you have to request the accomodation in writing. I would also try to find another center since it doesn't sound like they even attempt to communicate professionally with families to begin with.

[Unregistered]

I am a small in home child care provider and do not allow drop off after 9am so as not to disrupt our schedule. It also avoids the issue of a child sleeping in very late and not being ready for quiet time when the other children in care need their rest. I have a very small group of children and this is what works best for all of us. That said, my policy is clearly stated in my handbook which must be read and signed at time of enrollment so it this (or any other policy) would not work then the family would continue their search for care. I do think any change in policy should have advance notice so parents could have ample time to either decide they could live with the change, or if not give them time to give notice and find other care.

[youretooloud]

I'm wondering how strict they really want to be?

I have a mom who brings her child sick all the time. It's as if the girl wakes up and says "I don't feel good", and Mom says "Well, hurry up and get in the car so we can spread this illness to all your friends ASAP!!".

So, I sent a letter to everyone about how inconvenient this winter has been due to so many illnesses... But, even though all the parents got this letter, it was really only for this one particular Mom.

Can you ask about this? Explain your side? I wouldn't leave a daycare setting over this one issue. But, I'd want to know how flexible they are willing to be. Your reasons for being late are valid. It's not like you want to dance in during nap time with a hyper preschooler....you actually have someplace important to be.

[QualiTcare]

that's a ridiculous rule. the daycare center my children went to also made this policy after i started working there and knew enough inside information to know the REAL reason. they SAID the reason was because the kids missed so much of the "learning time" blah blah blah, but it was REALLY because kids who came in late usually wouldn't take a nap because generally coming in late meant waking up late.

i understood the frustration with that, but i also know that before i worked at the daycare, i worked as a waitress and sometimes didn't have to be at work until 11. i would call and let them know she'd be in late (10 - 10:30) so they'd be able to plan for lunch and staffing. she still woke up early so in our case it didn't affect her napping.

MOST often that wasn't the case though - it was parents who were off work or who didn't work at all bringing their kids in at lunch time (or even after lunch even though they had just woke up and hadn't eaten breakfast). still - it wasn't fair to make a blanket policy because you know what? if the staff knew i didn't have to be at work til 11 and i dropped off at 6, 7, or 8 then they would've talked about me behind my back about how i didn't have to be a work until late but didn't "cherish my time with my child."

damned if you do, damned if you don't.