Probably asked this before. But do u charge the parents the whole summer normal rate if they are teachers and off but want to come back in the fall? Even if they won't send their child in the summer?
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Probably asked this before. But do u charge the parents the whole summer normal rate if they are teachers and off but want to come back in the fall? Even if they won't send their child in the summer?
I have a part time dcg who's mom is a teacher. I don't charge anything for taking the summer off, as the 2 schoolage kids I have FT in the summer offsets my income. Plus this little one is quite a handful so I am going to enjoy not having her through the summer!
I have looked after teachers a lot over the years...I held them to 2 full days pay a week to hold the spot weather they came or not...THEY CAME...LOL
I have had a few teachers and have another signed up for sept. I charge for spring break and Christmas break although I offer a $5 reduced rate when people are on holidays. I offer this to all my families though providing I get 1 month notice of their holiday time.
For teachers I do not charge for summer providing I can fill my 2 months with another child. It has never been an issue. I have one family with an older child so she always comes for the 2 months. The teachers must leave a 2 week deposit in June for sept. If they were to ever decide to not come back in sept they are required to give 3 weeks PAID notice. They also know that in the event I cannot fill the spot for summer that they are required to pay for it to hold it (at a $5 day reduced fee for my holiday rate).
I would charge a 50% retainer for the summer that had to be paid in full on the last day of school so nobody would jump ship. They pay a 2 week deposit like everyone else for their last 2 weeks of care.
They can either send their child as normal, keep them home and pay my holiday rate ($10 less) or if I can find someone who only needs summer care they are not charged.
A 2 week deposit given in June to hold it for September, as well as 1/2 the monthly fees to hold it and not use it, or 3 day a week minimum to attend.
I charged based on days registered for care, not attendence. I do not amend that based on who the parent is employed by. (school board). When I have a school board employee here, they are very clear that payment is required all summer, regardless of attendance. They can send their child or keep them home, it's up to them, but I don't cut my income.Quote:
Originally Posted by babydom
Here, teachers are contracted to teach 195 days a year. Teachers average $60k for those 195 days. Strictly speaking, no they don't get paid for the summer which is common argument from a teacher but heck, they are well compensated for the handful days they do work since the salary is not pro-rated based on worked days/days off. If a teacher is not able to set aside some money from those paid 195 days to cover the remaining 170 days OFF they get, then I don't want them in my dayhome because their money management skills are so poor, I'll likely have other issues being paid.
I know my local school board actually deals with "banked hours" meaning that the 195 days teachers do work, are spread over 10 months but rather than take their income as salary/10 months, they bank part of it and take a slightly smaller pay cheque each month, and bank some hours/pay. This ends up with them earning their salary over 10 months but being paid for 12. If you ignore all the mumbo jumbo about that, it's the same as the rest of the world who does get paid leave. The annual salary is divide into 12 monthly pays or maybe 26 bi-weekly pays resulting in paid leave, and same income year round.
I don't have contracts specific to nurses, doctors, teachers or any other profession. If they want one of my spaces, they pay for it year round. If they don't want to pay for it, they can go somewhere else.
I agree with Suzie on this one. I currently have this situation happening here and i'm going to terminate and probably be weary of taking in Teachers kids from here on out. DCP is always griping about how they have to pay for March Break, the summer, extra days off here and there and always trying to work a deal to get "free days" when i already offer 2 weeks per contracted year for "free day" usage. They say they can't afford to pay over the summer as they are not being paid (read Suzies point on this) just shows poor money management and the want to try and negotiate how they can not pay for the summer. Sad to see the little guy go but not worth the constant headache!
Suzie can I ask how you word it when the parent requests a discount for the summer?? I have a family where both parents are teachers and when they registered their son last September they did ask about the summer months, and I told them at the time we would figure it out closer to the date (I was just opened a few months prior and learning about the ins and outs). I would prefer to keep their son in my care as he is a great fit and same age as the others enrolled, but also am not willing to give up income for two months. I can't. How do you tell people?
You just say unfortunately I do not offer any discounts for teachers or siblings. Fees are due regardless if child is here or not.
I have a higher rate for teachers.
my regular rate is $225/week ($45/day) for full time care.
Teachers : Full Time Only. No care over the summer
September to end of April
$300/week ($60/day)
No care over the summer May to August
Deposit $600
September to end of June
$270/week ($54/day)
No care over the summer July & August
Deposit $540
There is a non-refundable "summer holding fee" built into the enrollment fee. This fee is spreed out over the 9 months (September to May) or 10 months (September to June). If your start care after the first week of September, than you will need to pay the remained of the "summer holding fee". This fee is to be paid either by adding it to your bi-weekly enrollment fee or paid in full at time of enrollment. The "summer holding fee" is to hold your spot (guarantee you a spot in the next school year) ONLY. It does not cover enrollment fee for care over the summer.
This way They don't have to worry about paying over the summer and I don't have to worry about my bills.
I don't think it's a question of affordability, how much a teacher earns or how well they can budget. I think it is a matter of being at home and not actually needing childcare. Whether you have money in your bank account or not, I can understand how paying for 9 weeks of care over the course of the summer is a huge unnecessary expense. Over $2000 for that time period in my area so I can totally understand why a teacher in that situation would ask for some kind of discount as their childcare needs have significantly changed for that time period.Quote:
Originally Posted by Suzie_Homemaker
I have cared for teachers and took a 50% retainer, and once my last teacher left I vowed never to do this again because I couldn't take the loss and why should I. That being said, I can put myself in another persons shoes and know that regardless of affordability, $2000 for a 9 week period of childcare that isn't needed, is a huge unnecessary expense. I think teacher only providers are the best in this situation as it works in the best interest of both provider and teacher.
I totally agree, why should we take the loss when our numbers and income are so limited, but then why should a parent pay for childcare that isn't needed. It sucks to lose the income as a provider to a teacher when you offer a discount, but it sucks to pay out all that money at the same time when you are completely available to care for your child during that time too. I can see both sides and I don't begrudge a parent teacher for asking for the discount.
I find that this method doesn't work although I do know people who have this pay structure for teachers. I don't know however, how often it actually works and whether anyone actually goes for it. Parents do their research, generally, and shop around. They know what the average is for the area and realize that you are in fact charging them for the summer off by way of charging them a substantially higher rate ahead of time. Both options result in the same amount paid....give or take. They may not pay anything during the summer, but have a significantly higher rate the rest of the year, which I think defeats the object from their perspective. I don't think they are generally looking not to pay during the summer, I think more accurately they are looking not to pay for summer care, period.Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueRose
Quote:
Originally Posted by bright sparks
I also can see both sides but IMO, it's not really an unnecessary expense on the parents part. They need care Sept to June and if they can't find a dc that runs/charges those months only, than it is necessary to pay their provider for July/August if they want care the rest of the year. I have had parents who have 6-8 weeks holidays with their job as well but it's spread out throughout the year...they don't get a discount either (aside from my holiday fee I charge if they want to keep child at home) so I don't really see the difference between them and teachers. I do think that dcp's who don't charge them for July/August is of course the better option but I don't think necessarily think it's an unnecessary expense in the grand scheme of things.
I don't have any problems getting teachers to pay this. Most know that they will more then likely have to pay for the summer if they want the same provider the next school year. I have spoken to many providers through out my city and this method seems to be the norm here. It might not work everywhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by bright sparks
You do get some teachers who are cheap and don't want to pay for anything they don't feel like they need to. but that can be said about some families in general.
I think if they sign up knowing the deal then it isn't negotiable, but from the point of enquiring, it is not a need. If they don't find a provider willing to let them have summers off without any fees and they sign up for a 12 month contract with full pay, then yes it becomes a necessary expense to hold the spot for their child/children. Not really what I was getting at though. I was saying from the perspective of a parent looking for care, not one who has signed an agreement to pay year round to guarantee the spot.Quote:
Originally Posted by 5 Little Monkeys
For myself the teacher I have knows I will try to fill the spot in the summer for her so she doesn't have to pay. She knows if I cannot find a replacement for those 2 months that she has to pay for it to secure her spot. I have never ever had an issue filling the 2 months. I have always had one teacher's child in my care since I opened in 2010. It's win win for everyone.
My current teacher is leaving end of June. Older sibling of other child in care coming for summer and new teacher signed up for sept.
I charge for days registered not attendence. I not change my policies based on profession of parent either. If they want FT care here, they pay for 5 days a week. They are free to come in summer since they paying, or they can stay home. Some come, some come sometimes.Quote:
Originally Posted by babydom
Some carer's locally charge 50% for summer with understanding it to hold place until September, not an option to attend in Summer if they want this arrangement. I think if more for carers who have summer off with own children.
I agree with others when they say why would a parent want to pay for care when they can be at home for those weeks over summer, but on the flip side I cannot realistically take that kind of a pay cut or even just have them pay a lesser fee so they can come back. People would flip out if their employer decided to only pay 50% of the wage if they were on vacation.
I am just personally struggling with wording. I like the family, their son is a great addition here and to get someone to fill those two months seems silly with the ages and situation of my current kids here. I have a small group (only 3 kids) and they are all the same age so adding a school age kid would be inappropriate for me and that child. They'd be bored out of their mind and none of the current activities we do would be age appropriate. Lol.
So I'm struggling with how to word it. I guess just being to the point and matter of fact is best and most beneficial for all. The full time child care fee is what is is and if you want the f/t space held for two months then the fees are due. If you want to withdraw your child and re-register for September then they just have to keep in mind that space may be filled and no new space may be available.
so confused!!
I have found most parents understand when you explain paying for the space vs paying for days used. They may not like it but when you explain it from a financial standpoint, they usually understand why you do it this way. Sometimes, most times actually lol, parents don't think about that side of our business so they don't realize that we are limited to income until we point it out to them.
Hi chenderson - I think if you word it such as it is just like you have to pay rent even if you go on holidays for 2 months. the fees for daycare needs to be paid in the same way - they get it better as they understand that and it helps to get post-dated cheques too
Thanks again everyone! I do take post dated cheques Van and have up until June for this one family (I suggest they provide me with 6 months at a time). I will just send them their payment schedule and see if they say anything.
Keep us informed and good luck:)
I do charge them for the 2 months as it is hard to fill for me in my areaQuote:
Originally Posted by babydom
they are paying to keep the spot for Sept
come don't like it and move on but at lease with post-dated cheques you know where you stand for the summer and can look for someone new if they are leaving