Question about holding spots

[MonkeyPrincess]

How do i go about holding spots for parents who request that? Even if it's in a year's time? (like after a maternity leave per se) Do i collect fees (or part fees) to secure their spots? Can i take care of other children during that time? Then what? ask them to leave when the other family wants to come back into my care? Not sure how i feel about all this....

[playfelt]

I would never hold a space that long because too many things happen including the family moving, not returning to work afterall, grandma stepping in etc. and changes in your daycare in terms of age mix and other comings and goings. Most don't start to look until about 4-6 months before returning to work and unless I had an opening happening such as another child in care expected to leave then I wouldn't be signing them up. You should ask for a holding fee which should be high given all the reasons you would be the one to lose out if you saved the space. Asking for half the regular fee to hold is not unreasonable - although the parent likely will.

[MonkeyPrincess]

I agree with everything you said. I am not comfortable with holding spots for a whole year, 2-3 months tops! One parent has asked me to reserve not just one spot, but 2 spots for her Mat ....leave. I told her i couldn't do that because i wouldn't be making any money. I have to fill their spots because i have to supplement my income. I am not sure how she felt about that but we gotta do what we gotta do, right?

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yup if you want to guarantee your spot is there you pay for it ... otherwise you go on a waiting list and hope for best ... keeping the older sibling in one spots puts you and keeps you at the top of the internal wait list but is still no guarantee - sometimes a spot will come up two months earlier than they want and again they either take that one or I fill it and you hope another one opens again ... ultimately it is up to US if we want to forgo income for the right family - anyone who EXPECTED that from me would likely find my spaces filled ;)

[apples and bananas]

I don't hold spaces until i'm 3 months before the space opens up.

I'm currently working on a client who has their child in my care, but wants to remove him for mat leave and then have space held for both when she returns. I've worked out a fee to hold the spot and that will also allow her to bring her child for 2 days ( I can afford the lighter load for a year ) I also have one leaving this year for school but I happen to have a newbie who only needs 1 year of care so it just worked out that the spot will be there for her in a years time.

You can't hold a spot that long it costs too much, but you could try to advertise for a 1 year position... short term... part time... and see what comes up.

[Momof4]

If your spaces are filled I wouldn't make any promises until a couple of months before the new family wants to start and get the deposit and contract signed at that time. Just explain that it is too difficult for a home daycare provider to predict what will be happening in her business in a year's time.

I tried holding a space for 6 months one time, but I couldn't do it financially. The family wasn't paying anything, just was hoping for the space. However, I have a family on mat leave right now who are still bringing their little boy 3 days/week, then he goes to JK in Sept. and his space will be empty for 4 months or so before the new baby starts next Jan/Feb. So I'm going to ask the family to pay $200/month as a holding fee for the months that are sitting empty.

It's going to wreak havoc on my income and budgeting but it's worth it to keep this family for another 3 1/2 years. They have already been with me for 3 1/2 years and they are top-notch.

Last year I held a space for 2 months and another one for 3 months before the families started and I collected the deposits, the signed contracts and $100/month holding fees because the spaces were empty.

[Cocoon]

I'm holding a spot for 3 months( well it will be 3 months in July) and I told the family if they want the spot they have to pay either a holding fee which is $100 per month and it is payable now or they can say no and wait and contact me in June to see if I still have a spot available. I also told them that I have 2 more families interested in the spot(I refused one but was going to offer other family if this family said no to holding fee). They paid on the spot and now I'm waiting for them to start in July.

In Feb. one family had emailed me asking if i have a temp. spot for her son starting from mid May? I told her to contact me in April to see If I have any availability. She did and I met her yesterday and she took the spot until beginning of July :) So in my case It worked really well.

If you want to hold the spot for that long as them to pay for some amount until they come back meanwhile, advertise the spot for a year or until your current family comes back(I feel like I have post this sentence before. Is there 2 post regarding holding fee or am I loosing it? :)

[Inspired by Reggio]

... Is there 2 post regarding holding fee or am I loosing it? :)

LOL - nope you are as sane as the next guy ... I had to double check too when i posted in one and then thought - ummm didn't I just answer this?

There were two a new one and an old one that got bumped ;)