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Is there a reason why you don't allow for switching?
I have a part time family, who's schedule is changing constantly due to hospital hours and hubby working handy man jobs in between classes at college. I don't mind it at all, and if I can accommodate it, great. They must attend a minimum of 3 days per week, so as long as they hit that I'm fine with it. Just trying to grasp why it bothers you so much?
I would put in writing that they are registered for certain days only and there no flexibility in switching days because they are either occupied by different child or because you advertise them as vacant. Tell them they if they require an extra day and there is room, they are welcome to have it as an additional date that week and therefore with additional fees not to switch around. State that you find it offensive that they say they understand yet continue to request and that if they ask again, you will just be ignoring the request.
Then it not matter what pops up. Like other adults, if something 'pops up' they have to decide if they can go based on the child care arrangement they have not the one they wished they had. They will need to learn to schedule things that pop up around other commitments.
The problem is they essentially get a full time open slot for the price of part time pay. Tell them they must have set days. If they need additional days then they can ask BUT the additional days will be at x amount per day. Tell them you can't switch for the same money but you may be able to accommodate an additional day.
Explain to them that if you allowed every client to have access to all five days but only pay for three you would go nrole. Tell them every client wants the deal they are asking for. Tell them you have never met a client who, if offered, they would just agree to give three days pay.. pick and choose on a day to day basis what three days of the five they would need and then pay for a forth or fifth day should they not be able to get free care on the fourth or fifth day. Tell them what they are REALLY asking for is drop in care for the price of part time care.
EVERYBODY who uses daycare wants access to all five days but only pay for the days they use and only let the provider know what days they want with no guarantee that they will actually use that day.
EVERYBODY wants that but the provider. That business model doesn't work. If you do that with everybody you will go broke.
They must give a set schedule and pay regardless of attendance. Any additional days must be paid upfront and they are not guaranteed without prepayment and confirmation that you can take the child.