Daycare Attendance Policy

Question

After a recent misunderstanding with a parent, I have decided to enforce an attendance policy in my home daycare. How does this sound? Anything I need to change?

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Attendance Policy

Effective August 18, 2008

While I encourage all children to be here on the days they have reserved, I know this is not always possible. Therefore, I have decided to offer a reasonable number of "unpaid personal days" to be used at your discretion for sickness, family emergencies, and vacations.

Your child is allowed 15 personal days per year, for which you do not have to pay. Once your 15 days are used up, you will be charged full price for the days you have reserved whether your child is here or not – and regardless of the reason. Personal days will be replenished on August 1 of every year.

Additionally, if your child is gone more than two weeks straight, I reserve the right to offer his place to another child without notice.

Answer 1

Very generous compared to most places, however undoubtedly there will be some pissing and moaning from people who were used to not having to pay for any days their child missed.

Answer 2

Sounds very fair.  THe daycare my daughter goes to charges $75 a week and if she is gone for 2 weeks, even if I tell them I am going to be gone for 2 weeks. They try to fill her spot.  I had to pay $150 just to get her back in last time.  I took her out of that daycare after she got hit by one of the kids and the teacher didn't do anything about it.  But your policy seems very good.

Answer 3

I think you are being very reasonable. My daughter is in daycare and there are no personal days. If my daughter shows up 1 day for that week guess what. Its still full price. Now if we go on vacation or something and she isn't there for the week I pay 50.00 bucks to hold her spot.

Answer 4

Wow! I also run a home Daycare and the only thing I offer is one weeks vacation where they do not need to pay! I charge for holiday closings, sick days, personal days... If they are supposed to be there and they are not they still need to pay, It's how I earn a living! I have had no complaints so far!

Answer 5

Where is your daycare, I'm signing my children up!  LOL  Your policy is quite generous.  Most daycares require payment regardless of the child's attendance.

Answer 6

Your policy is very generous and your requirements are very clearly stated. My daughter attends a daycare which has a good policy...they give us one "unpaid" week per year (for vacation or whatever) if you notify them in advance in writing (they have a form you fill out) and one "half tuition" week per year (for illness or additional time out). They also request that you give them two weeks notice before you withdraw your child from their school to allow them to get the vacant spot filled, and you can't use these "unpaid" weeks during that two week period.

Your policy sounds very fair.

Answer 7

Most of the policy sounds good the only part I would worry about is the two weeks off. If I were taking my child to visit family in another state and would be gone more than 2 weeks I would not want to be punished for that. I would of course take the courtesy of letting you know before just taking off. But I would hope that there would be a way to be able to take the child to visit grandparents and still keep their slot.

Answer 8

Sounds more than fair. I know at the day cares I worked at the parents paid anyway. Didn't matter if their child was sick, they were sick, etc. They paid for the time their child was enrolled.

I think you're being extremely reasonable with what you're asking.

Answer 9

Perfectly said….there’s no reason why anyone should misunderstand what is said here. And it really is KEY to have these things spelled out when you have a daycare, in home or not. People will always look for loopholes…

** ADD **

I think you should have people give you WRITTEN notice if they are taking their child away on vacation or basically if they’re missing a week of daycare. Our daycare says you have two weeks paid “vacation” and you must submit this to them in writing at least 2 wks prior. And it has to be approved….

This gives you a paper trail to cover YOUR butt in the event someone wants to try to s***w you. And if you terminate them after 2 wks then you have the written document to prove anything in the event you need it.

Answer 10

I don't see a problem with that. 15 days is really gracious!! Most daycares only give 10 days (two work weeks worth).

Sometimes you have to do these things to keep people responsible for their actions.

You should state that the days do not carry into the next year, people will ask.  

Answer 11

Sounds VERY liberal to me. Most daycares (including the one my daughter attended AND the one I worked at)  charge a flat fee per week or per month -- and if the child is sick or on vacation, mom pays anyway.