I am another who does not 'hold' a spot and my parent handbook clearly stats that for clients .... my written policy is that if you want the spot you pay for the spot to secure it and it also indicates that clients cannot just 'drop down' from full time and part time - unless I have an opening for them to move into - I only ever like to have ONE part time spot and the rest I prefer full time!

That said I have on occasion because it suited ME to have a space open for a month or two over the warm months to allow for field trips or because I did not WANT to enroll another child cause I needed some 'quiet time' with the group I had refrained from filling it right away and instead pre-booked it with another client - but they had to sign the contract and pay the non-refundable security deposit equal to two weeks fees and if they did not end up enrolling than I kept the deposit and filled the space with someone else - but that is not THEM asking me to hold it that is me choosing not to advertize the spot being available until X date

Sorry but IMO it is not fair to ask a provider to 'forgo' their income for a YEAR for the 'privilege' of maybe having you return to the spot cause a lot can happen in a year to change your well laid 'plans' .... if you were to vacate your home for a YEAR because you were going on sabbatical - you would still have to pay your rent or mortgage to ensure it was there for you when you came back OR you would have to give notice or sell it or arrange for someone else to pay for it but the landlord is not going to forgo payment for a year just because they 'like you' they are running a business and need to put dinner on their famlies plate to!

A 'space' in a child care program is no different - and sorry but unlike other businesses my income is already limited to the five children I am legally allowed to provide service to, the unexpected fluctuations due to clients getting laid off or moving before the child is old enough to go to 'school' and end care anyway - no matter how much I LOVE a client it is not always feasible to choose to take a pay cut on the off chance they might return to you - does not make sense to me