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I have just terminated a longer-term child and have a newer family (all is well) as well. I am pretty sure that the remaining family should know that there will be changes and I would like to tell them the basic reason (aggression), so they will not have any cause for concern of the same happening to them. Does this sounds reasonable? How much/little should I say?
If you feel that they really need to know then don't use names, as something like. Due to an incident with a pass daycare family/child (this doesn't mean it was the one who just left) the following changes have been made. Please rest a sure all issues have been resolved and I have put these changes in effect to insure the issues do not reoccur. Keep the story about the incident/issues brief and to the point. Let them know that you want to protect the confidentiality of the other parties involved. This will re a sure the new family that you will protect theirs as well.
I just went through this as well. I did feel I needed to let the other families know about the changes, but kept it as brief as possible and said something like "due to ongoing behaviour issues". The other parents had all seen it...but I felt I had to say something.
I'm filling a space right now as well and one of the people coming for an interview asked me a few questions about why I had a space come available unexpectedly. I was very vague and based the answer on my principals and what I need to happen with the daycare families and explained that the family I terminated was not meeting my standards. But I would never breach client confidentiality either. It's tricky! You should be able to state without fear that you will not tolerate aggressive behaviour at your daycare. I don't see a problem with that. Tell the truth.
Yes the family needs to know because the changes do effect their child. But at the same time the details are private. It is sufficient to say oh just wanted to let you know that as of whatever date little XXX will be leaving care and we will have a new friend joining us. Then I would just go on and talk about the new friend as in their age, sex etc and make it all about what will be and not what was. Chances are the family is aware of things that were going on to some extent even if we don't realize how much they were learning and will understand without needing details. If they press then just say that child XXX parents and you feel that he would do better in a different environment and leave it at that. If pressed more then just tell them that just as you would not talk to other parents about their child you can't talk to this parent about the child that is leaving. They should be grateful to hear that. Again the emphasis of the news is about welcoming the new child and just closing the door on the old family with everyone.
Omigosh, I totally misread the question. When I terminated my problem family the other families were actually relieved. You will be surprised at the comments you will receive from the other families that you didn't know they were thinking. Someone might actually ask you why it took you so long to terminate!
In my case, the child wasn't mixing in with the group and always played on his own anyway so he wasn't even missed by the other children and they are relieved that the annoyances that bothered them daily are gone. My group is happier than they have ever been. But I did tell them the first day he was gone at breakfast that he went to a new daycare and they all said OK.
When this happened to me the Monday morning others where kindda like WHAT ?!?! I just said that's that ! If they were lingering on I just said it just didnt work out and plus I think they are going away for a while or something. Whatever they didnt need to know the truth. Actually some were nervous and more careful around me hahaha !
I told every family in my care about the termination I recently did, and they ALL expressed relief, and started telling me stories that their own kids told them about the kid I terminated. Hm. Seems I did the right thing, huh? LOL