School board "snow days"

[Rachael]

I live in Ontario, and our area seems to get snowstorms on weekends for the last few years, so I've never had issues with snowdays and school closures etc. so far.
I've had teacher clients asking about snow day policies, and whether I will be open or not(they have to pay for all scheduled days) They are working the same school board that we are in, and fully intend to bring their kids in even if they are not working. Our street usually isn't plowed until 2 days after a storm, as we are on a quiet crescent. Do any of you in Southern Ontario(Halton/Peel etc) have "snow day" closure policies in your contracts, and how have you worded the policies? Thanks in advance.

For clarification - Are your teacher clients parents of a preschooler who is in your care all day long or are they the parents of children who come just BAS ?

Do you close your whole day care on snow days so no one comes? Or do you mean you just don't accept the school age children? Or is it just these particular clients who you thought would pay for the day but never come 'cause they are off themselves?

Sorry but really struggling to understand exactly what your situation is.


If they choose to drop off a toddler/preschooler and you are open for other toddlers/preschoolers, what odds does it make? Do you expect all other clients to have their child at home when they are off for the day or just teachers on snow days? Or is it that you hoped that school closure for the parents, would mean fewer children for you even though they are paying?

Sorry I'm not seeing what the issue is if they bring their child, presuming you are open anyway, esp as you are charging them.

Or are they school age children and the teacher parents are saying that they are going to come normal time on a snow day and drop off their child but return when the child would usually be leaving for school to get them. Then they will be back with their child at the time school normally ends and leave their child until they end of business day? Again, it's a bit unusual for sure, but since they are being charged for the day regardless of attendance, I'm not sure what the issue is. It's not like the parents have any control over the school closure.

I have two teachers now and usually have at least one. Sometimes they drop their child off and take the snowday to achieve their own errands/work from home, sometimes they stay home with their child on a snowday. Like you, my clients pay based on days registered not attendance but I wouldn't expect them to pay and refuse to provide care too.

OR do you routinely close for everyone on a snow day ? I've only ever heard of that when every client is school age.


In terms of wording, presuming my understanding is correct, and you want payment but aren't willing to provide care on storm days, then I guess you could put something like this....

School Age Children
A place has been reserved in the day care for your child before school, from <opening time> until <bus leaves/gets dropped at school> and again after school from <end of school> until <closing time>. All day care for school closure dates is not automatic and therefore must be agreed in advance subject to availability and if such an arrangement has been reached, school closure dates will require the full date rate of <$xx.xx>.
Before and After school fees are required regardless of attendance and therefore payment is required for snow dates, teacher training dates, statutory holidays, and any other circumstance where the school closes short notice. Please be advised that care will NOT be available for school age children when school is closed unless all day care has been agreed and paid for.
There is not the option to transport your child to day care for a couple of hours in the morning and again late afternoon. If the school is closed to students, then so am I.