Thinking of revising my contract to include some NEW key points.

[playfelt]

Your contract will develop over the years to cover issues such as these that come up. It gets longer and firmer for each successive set of parents. On the payment issue there are two things. First charge by enrolment meaning if you want the space you pay for it. Then if a child is going to be away for a doctor's appointment or whatever the parent is still expected to pay for the day since you can't fill it with anyone else since the parent wants the full week available to them. That will solve some of the issues. You could also write in the contract that you pay full price for the upcoming two weeks. Any adjustments will be deducted from the next payment. So at least you have 2 weeks notice if your income is going down so you can rethink a craft or ordering pizza for supper or whether you should buy those new shoes or not.

The deposit my parents pay goes towards the first two weeks of care so I have nothing covering the end of care. I have only been burned by that a couple times in 24 years of daycare.

My contract states that children should arrive ready for the day meaning fed, dressed for the weather, etc. It might be a good idea to remind parents that there are specific times for food to be served and that the kitchen is "closed" between those times. If they will not be in care during a scheduled snack/meal it is the parent's responsibility to feed them before coming.

[Sarah A]

Very well said. I will definitely include some of that wording when I revise. Thanks for your input.

[Spixie33]

I think you will figure out what works as you go along. It is hard to know and consider all possible scenarios when you get started.

As for vacation...I write that I can take up to THREE weeks off unpaid. I usually do one week in the summer and another week at Christmas and I do take a one day or two day. I always advise parents at least 4 weeks of a planned closure even if it is just one day. I have told my parents that they will be given 4 weeks notice if I need to close unless it is an emergency (i.e a funeral, illness, family emergency)

I do get paid for all stats

I also get paid the same every week. If I am available and expecting a child then it is a paid day. If I need to close the daycare for any reason then it is unpaid.

I do give parents up to TEN days off UNPAID where they can go on vacation. They have to give me at least 4 weeks notice. I might reduce this to 5 days at some point but so far it has worked. Usually parents take the time during the summer and I love having a lighter load so I can see my own school age kids more during that time.

I would definitely send out a reminder note to all the parents (so that the one doesn't feel singled out) that children are supposed to be fed, clean and ready for a fun day when they arrive in the morning.

I hold a ONE WEEK deposit for all my parents (even the part timers who only come 2 days a week) etc. I get paid every Thursday and this way I will be covered for the last week if anyone would ever decide to just up and run. I think it is important to have something in place to protect you. Some people get paid every Monday for the week ahead as a security measure and other's who are paid at the end of the week tend to hold a deposit just in case