Opening when schools are closed?

[Mum2Boo]

Looking for opinions Home Daycares opening when the schools are closed for inclement weather.

Personally I have a couple of views. First is I'm home anyway & would be able to look after the children as my own would be home from school & would therefore not miss out on payment for the day.

Second view is, if the schools & non home daycares have closed because of the weather then they are trying to say its not safe to for the children to be travelling in the weather.

What do you all think & what do you do?

[mimi]

I remain open. It is up to the parents to decide wether they want to venture out. I just make sure they understand I will not extend my hours.......they must alot enough extra time to get here for my closing.

[sunnydays]

I have never closed for inclement weather. Schools actually rarely close, if ever. It is the buses that are cancelled because they cannot risk transporting kids in dangerous conditions. Parents can decide if they feel safe to drive their own kids. If I close, chances are they would drive them to someone else's house anyway (ie. grandparents, another daycare, etc). I would never drive with the daycare kids myself though on bad weather days as that just poses too much risk. I don't even walk with them if there is dangerous weather such as freezing rain or extreme cold etc.

[monkeymama]

I stay open. I live in small town and even some of my parents walk for drop off. I do not have any school agers except for my dd, so it doesn't affect my day that much.

[crafty]

I don't close either however, if there is a power outage for more than 2 hours than I am closed or I ask parents to pick up their child (with pay). I live waaaaaaaaaaaay out in the country and it gets cold and dark very fast here if ANYTHING happens I have not water, no phone ( I always have my cell phone but ... )

[apples and bananas]

I open as well. However, I don't charge a client for not coming if they feel it's unsafe to travel.

[BlueRose]

I stay open as well. They can decide weather or not to come, but I get paid either way. I charge a little extra per day so that they don't have to pay more. I also keep extra soup and things to ensure I have enough food in the house. I only charge extra when school is on strike, its $10/day their child is in care or regular fee if child is not in care during the strike.

[Mum2Boo]

Thanks so much for all of your responses
The schools in my area have all closed (not just the transportation) due to the potential of a freezing rain storm :/
I'm open, the majority of parents decided not to send their children. One set of parents have done & they are the ones that travel a distance to work. Both of them travel over an hour & a half, and I guess I'm here wondering if they are going to get back on time for pick up.

Crafty: I although I don't live out in the countryside, I do like your 2 hour power outage suggestion

Mimi: Good suggestion too

Sunnydays: I agree. No driving today

Thanks again everyone I really do appreciate your responses, ideas and suggestions Still quite the newbie at all of this