What are some KEYS POINTS that you include in your daycare contracts?

[Inspired by Reggio]

Sorry if I repeat anything other posters have shared

In my financial contract - the thing we 'sign' together is two pages in length and covers the following

• Contact info of clients and Who tax receipt will be issued to
• Hours of Care Committed to ... specific days and drop off and pick up times
• Payment Policies ... security deposit required to hold space and if it is 'refundable' under what circumstances and when if it is non refundable can it be applied to last weeks of care provided proper notice is given? Fees - how much is owed, when it is to be paid and so forth ... mine reads 'fees of X amount are owed for the committed days above regardless of attendance and are to paid in advance of care, on the Friday by noon, as per payment schedule of weekly, biweekly or monthly. Fees not paid by close of business on Friday will result in a late fee of $20 per day and service will not be provided until all late fees and payment for care has been made. Consistent lateness or issues around payment will result in immediate termination of this contract and forfeiting of the security deposit.
• Vacation / Illness policies - theirs and mine when fees are due or not due
• Acknowledgement of the parent 'handbook' and that all policies in the handbook must be followed, failure to follow policy could result in termination of the contract and that failure of the provider to choose to enforce any policy on one occasion he

rein does not negate the contract or policy obligations at future dates.

My client handbook than is over 20 pages long and is provided 'electronically' on my website in my members section for reference at any time and covers the following topics:

• My Missions Statement - what my values are and why I do what I do
• Program and Curriculum philosophy - what I offer in regards to 'early learning'
• Developmental Milestone charting practices - how I make sure children are stimulated for their stage and age of development and are 'ready' for school by time they graduate from my program
• Hours of Operation - open and close times and policy around 'changing' those
• Closure dates ... aka list of Stat dates over the year and reminder of how many weeks vacation I take and notice to be given before these
• Registration procedures - security deposit to be paid, contract signed, all forms filled out and completed and so forth
• Orientation / visit procedures ... I require minimum of 3 play dates before a child can be 'left' here, than the first two days must be 'partial days' if the child is not coping they are not left for the full 9 hours the first day
• Fee Payment policies in MORE detail
• Payment options - I allow weekly, biweekly or monthly payments as long as they are 'in advance' of care provide as well as other expectations / rules for payment and 'consequences' of nonpayment being termination of contract!
• Withdraw of Care procedure - must be in writing, 10 business days in advance of last day to apply security deposit, also clear in my handbook that clients cannot 'drop down' to part time days unless there is a part time space to drop into and proper notice is given - and in doing so they would 'forfeit' their full time spot and have to go on a waiting list if they wanted back into full time, also cover maternity leave and other 'issues' that may arise around changes to care.
• Receipt procedures - receipt for cash given at time of payment, tax receipt is annual and must be 'picked up' - I do not mail them out if you have left care you have to come back and sign for them!
• Late pick up procedures - if client is arriving after contracted hours what happens, is there a charge, what happens if it becomes a 'habit' and so forth
• Custody Arrangement policy - aka policy on how to handle custody changes and ultimately making it clear do not put ME in the middle of your custody battle and clients in marital crisis who cannot provide a united front for their child while in program will find their contract terminated
• What to Expect Upon Enrollment - being 'ready' for daycare list, how to help your child adjust, how the program will help adjust and so forth
• Arrival / Departure procedure and expectations for both child and clients
• Supervision policy - making it clear to clients that on occasion I must use my other senses to 'supervise' children - cause a peer of mine had issue with a client who expected eyes to be on her kid at all times and well sometimes we need to PEE or step out of the room momentarily so wanted that 'clear' to clients
• Nutrition policy - meals, snacks offered, expectation of children around meal time and so forth, is outside food allowed and under what circumstances, how are birthdays and seasonal or cultural holidays handled food wise
• Personal belongs - who provides what and what is expected to be here daily
• Physical activity policy - does the program go outside, if so how often and under what circumstances does it NOT and so forth
• Washroom / diaper philosophy - who provides what, under what 'circumstances' can toilet training be supported within the program and so forth
• Health and Safety - is the home 'child proof', how are toys and environment 'cleaned' what is the illness policy for exclusion and return to program, do kids have to be immunized and so forth, will you administer meds under what conditions where will they be stored, how will emergency medical issues be 'handled' in the program so clear to clients that children might be sent ALONE in an ambulance because you have to stay with the other kids!
• Fire drills - how often are they done what is expected of clients to aid in this practice
• Behavior management and guidance policy - how is negative and socially unacceptable behaviour handled in the program for the various ages, is there a code of conduct of expectations for children, what behaviour will warrant termination of care, how will 'issues' be communicated to parents and so forth?
• Communication policy - what is expected of the provider, the parents around daily communication ... preferred method of communication agreed upon by both parties be it verbal, written, email, phone calls, combination and so forth
• Program highlights ... how parents can help in the program, what is expected of them to support learning in the program to be carried over into the 'home'

So that is my big ole verbal diarrhea list of things I think are important to 'cover' when entering into a childcare agreement with clients .... my contract and handbook are LONG however I NEVER have issues with clients around fees and very rarely around behaviour expectations or dealing with 'milestone stages' kids go through.