Charge normal rate?

[latte30]

Hello all,

Just a quick question...how do you all charge for summer break, March Break, as well as Christmas break? I'm asking because one of the parents at my daycare is a teacher and has all of the above breaks off, and is not sure whether or not she will be bringing her daughter in during her time off...she would like to know how i will go about charging her, and i'm not really sure how to respond.

Thanks in advance!

Latte30

[busydaycarelady]

Hi there! As far as Christmas/Easter/school holidays if the parent doesn't have those days off child comes as usual. If a parent does have those days off and they are not going to be bringing their child on those days that they would NORMALLY come rate remains the same. Since she has the summer off, perhaps a deposit to hold their spot for September?

[Inspired by Reggio]

My formal policy is that I charge for the space being occupied ~ they want the space to be there again come September they pay full fees to hold it.

However I have been able to have clients who lucked out in that I had a school age sibling who needed 'summer only' care to slip into a spot for a teacher client my first year so I did not charge them they just left their security deposit to 'confirm' the intent to return ... I have also had times when I wanted a 'slow summer' so met a teacher in the middle with pay 50% of the fee and able to either send the kid daily half days or 2 days one week and 3 the next or what not.

Also know peers who divide the normal 'annual fees' up into the number of weeks in a school year and charge teachers 'more' during the school year. That way if they want to return in September they can leave a deposit to return again in the Fall and if not that they are just done and the provider fills the space again.

[sunnydays]

I charge full fees or they risk losing their spot. I don't have any teachers right now, but I had one before and she paid over summer and sent her kids most days. I don't mind whether they send the kids or not, but they have to pay the fees or I can't hold the space. I know a lot of people hold spaces over summer with a holding fee, but for me it's just not worth it as I know I could fill those spaces.

[Mom of 3]

Same here. Same rate applies. My dc parents took a month off to go to cuba for there wedding and they paid the full month. It is in my contract "That fees are paid no matter if the children are here or not. It is to ensure the space is held".
It is impossible to be able to keep the financial aspect of the business in check if you let parents pick/choose/ or argue how much they pay you and when.

[Momof4]

I don't specialize in teachers but I have good friends who could answer that question. However, if I had a client like that I suppose they would have to follow all the same rules as my other dcfamilies. I charge full fees all year long no matter if there are stat or sick or missed days except for the weeks I'm closed for vacation. So if the teacher parent was home for the March break for instance and wanted to use a few days of daycare that would be fine with me because they would have to pay full fees anyway.

[latte30]

Thanks everyone for your super quick and helpful responses! I'm thinking I will charge regular rates, and leave it up to them whether they choose to bring their daughter in during their holidays.

[Crayola kiddies]

When I have a teacher interview for a spot I discuss this with them at that time..... Generally when they start asking "do I have to pay for those times ?" then I tell them they have to pay for Xmas, march break in full, and they are permitted to go down to three days in the summer.

[sunnydays]

Did you discuss any of this before they started with you? Normally teachers ask at the interview...and then I am always clear so that it cannot lead to issues later on. If they are assuming they will not have to pay, you may have to be prepared for them leaving. There are always daycare around who will accommodate teachers by not making them pay during the school breaks.

Thanks everyone for your super quick and helpful responses! I'm thinking I will charge regular rates, and leave it up to them whether they choose to bring their daughter in during their holidays.

[bright sparks]

Thanks everyone for your super quick and helpful responses! I'm thinking I will charge regular rates, and leave it up to them whether they choose to bring their daughter in during their holidays.

I want to caution you on this. I have had a number of teachers kids in the past few years, and just lost the last teachers kids I will ever take. IME, most teachers will not come with you if you charge full rate. They don't need the care and believe it or not, majority will just find someone else, even if it's not as high a quality of care as you provide. If they do start, there's a chance they would pull their child out for the summer and look for new care to start in September. This leaves you at short notice down on money. I charged a 50% retainer and told them they could bring their child 2 days a week. This is of no benefit to me, only them. In hindsight, I will no longer be taking teachers kids any more. It is a financial loss to have a teachers kid or an increased risk that they will leave because they are paying for about 12 weeks of care each year that they don't need.