I have interviewed quite a few teachers and they usually ask what my policy is. I have never had one ASSUME or tell me that they expect the time off unpaid. Yikes. That sounds awful.

I have talked to them during interviews and they have told me that providers seem split down the middle on whether they charge a half rate for the summer or not at all.

I am a provider who does not charge for summer, march break or Christmas vacay when it is for a teacher. I have 1 teacher so far in my daycare and will likely get a second one next year. I am losing income during that time but I justify it that I don't mind the lighter load during those days because my own kids are home from school. My own children require a lot of attention and are hungry every 10 minutes when they are home and they add a lot of work to my day so I almost feel like it evens out having my own children home. It also allows me to spend more time with my own children or interact with them more rather than just worrying about 5 dcks. It is a worthwhile tradeoff for me personally.

I won't accept more than 2 teachers at a time though. I still need to make some money

The thing I love about teachers is that they usually pick up by 4 which is another bonus. Some teachers can be sticklers though and can seem like demanding clients. That is why I have often interviewed but not signed them. Some of the ones I have interviewed don't like the idea of a contract and all the guidelines but yet they themselves have a lot of rules they want to lay down on how I provide care.

I guess it all depends on the teacher though. Sorry you are having a rough time with the interviews between them. Good thing you are emailing back and forth with the current one to iron everything out before you waste your time interviewing