Inclement weather policy

[Daycare123]

Thanks everybody! I have no idea what my policy will be now-but I have lots to consider!

[ttremble88]

I had a situation happen today due to the weather. I messaged all of my parents at 6:15am when I realized that the bus were cancelled. That being said, I have before and after school kids that I drop off at the bus and the others I walk to school. I had 1 child show up in the morning with his backpack and his father did not say anything to me, so I assumed he was going to school. I had to leave early to walk him to school because of the snow and when I get back, there is an email from the mother asking me if I can keep him for the full day. I am only suppose to have this child BEFORE school, so when I dropped him off, I phoned my hubby telling him that I had the rest of the day off. I tell her that if the father had told me at drop off OR she messaged me BEFORE we leave in the mornings, I would not have a problem keeping him here. So she asks me to pick him up from school?? Sorry, I have made family plans for the remainder of the day. I dont get it, we knew that this crazy snow storm was coming, busses are cancelled (that is how this boy gets home) and yet you drop him off with all of his school things and dont inform me of anything? Am I wrong? I dont know. Just seemed like common sense to me. On top of that, I need to drag my pregnant self out in that crazy weather with my 2 young boys. Grrrrrrrrr.

[bright sparks]

Here is my thing....how does the weather impact my ability to offer childcare? The only way would be in terms of taking the kids outside but that doesn't mean they can't come and spend the day indoors. How do you justify not being able to open your daycare due to weather? It makes no sense to me. I don't have to drive somewhere to open up I walk downstairs and as long as I have power and people can access my home then I am open as normal.

[ttremble88]

I agree 100% bright sparks. The only way I am effected is by my before and after school kids and attempting to find out if they are going to show up or not

[Daisy123]

Snow day here (well ice day actually...). I stay open but if the buses are cancelled I don't do school runs. I send the parents a text in the am and they have the option of bringing the school aged kids to me for the day if i have space,bringing them to school themselves or keeping them home. I generally get paid anyways since they have the option. If the parents send the kids to me for the day, well that's a bonus because I get a full day fee!!!

[Daycare123]

Bright Sparks- I have to agree-if things are up and running as per usual I wouldn't close. I guess my concern is that I have had parents show up late when there has been bad weather which put me off staying open, because the expect me to "understand the circumstances".

ttremble88- I don't think you were in the wrong at all! As you said had you known you ofcourse would have done as mom had requested.

[mickyc]

if parents are showing up late due to weather then you charge late fee that is all. $1 for every minute they are late. Sure makes sure they are on time and take the weather conditions into consideration. Also I have in my policy that too many late pickups is a reason I can terminate care.

[bright sparks]

Bright Sparks- I have to agree-if things are up and running as per usual I wouldn't close. I guess my concern is that I have had parents show up late when there has been bad weather which put me off staying open, because the expect me to "understand the circumstances".

That a separate issue though and should be put in the contract and perhaps even an email the night before when a weather warning is issued asking that they call be x time to notify you of their plans for the day and if they are in all likelihood just going to take more time and be late dropping off. It's all about communication.

[playfelt]

What the parents need to understand Daycare123 is that they should have left work earlier considering the weather. Not your problem. You charge by the 15min segment or whatever after their normal contracted time. You realize there is a weather situation and so do they and it is up to the parents to make the changes necessary or pay the consequences literally . Now having said that I would probably give a 10-15 minute leeway to parents depending on distance driven rather than my normal 5.

[AmandaKDT]

My only concern would be for the health and wellbeing of the kids. All the buses are cancelled today too here in Winnipeg and it is extremely cold - almost -50 windchill. The only situation I could see for closing is if the power went off and stayed off when we are having such extreme weather. Our power went off for about a half hour last night and it was very noticable that it was getting cold in that short amount of time with the furnace not running.