Dropoff/pickup times always changing

[Rachael]

My question is, do I have a right to challenge the parent on the pickup times now that the project is over, and I know the pickup parent is at home 2 hrs before I close? I picked this family specifically because their hours were shorter, and the child wouldn't be here right until closing. Suggestions on how to talk to this parent please? At the very least, I figure they need to tell me that hours are changing for the day, and maybe I need to revise the contract.

Legally, no, you don't have a right to challenge this parent unless your agreement for the shorter hours is clearly reflected in the contract with an expected pick up time.

Although we all would be tempted by the shorter hours and a bug miffed if that arrangement ended, bottom line is, what is in the contract is all that's enforceable.

You can certainly try and speak to them though and explain that one of the reasons you took them was the shorter hours and you can state that their child isn't functioning well with the longer hours, and that takes you away from the others. Maybe they will make an effort to come at the original time if they understand their child isn't adjusting to the change. You are hard pushed to enforce the earlier pick up unless that is stated in the contract. If they pay the all day rate, then it's not unreasonable that they have the whole days care.

I'm similar to Micky - My core business hours are 7.30am until 4.30pm. I know roughly when each child will come and leave but as long as it's in business hours, no big deal. I do require notice if they are going to be later than 9am as we go out, and I won't hang around wondering if someone is coming if they aren't here by then, so if they need me to hold on, they'd better be in touch or no one will be home until lunchtime. I do have a few military who drop at 7am because parking around the base is dreadful, but their contracts state "Agreement has been reached that you may drop your child no earlier than 7am without charge but the expectation is that you pick up your child no later than 4pm. This is a fixed daily arrangement and therefore showing up on the odd day at regular opening time does not extend your arrangement to regular closing time. For those joining the day care with the agreement of an earlier start, there is no care available after 4pm. If this is no longer your requirement, please let me know and a new contract can be issued for core hours only for both drop off and collection".