I agree - illness policy is a must!

Paid sick days or vacation for the provider definitely varies per region and often per neighborhood - not the 'norm' in my neighborhood but I factored them into my fees as well over the past 5 years instead of raising my rates ... so clients have two options the lower base fee that is the same 52 weeks a year or a higher weekly fee that fluctuates lower if I am sick or on vacation they do not pay ... but at tax time every full time client who was here for the full year has a receipt that is pretty much the same cause the plans are basically identical except I rounded up the higher fee so they actually pay a couple bucks more each year to NOT pay me for vacation or sick days

I am another one who has a short 'contract' with the financial components and than an 'electronic' handbook with the policy and procedures of my service to save on paper being printed out and kept for 7 years ... the last line of the contract states 'I have read and agree to abide by the policies and procedures of XYZ home childcare.' That way if i need to update/revise a policy or procedure for the program due a new life lesson I can just send out a new electronic version that replaces the old one without making everyone resign contracts....the only time i make them resign the contract is when I change something about the financial agreement.