Can ECE's charge more?

[Fleacat]

Hi.
I am currently enrolled in college for Early Childhood Education. I am in my second placement at a YMCA preschool. I do not like or agree with some of the policies they have ( I wont go into detail on here, mainly issues with the educational side of it.) Because of this, I am thinking of opening my own before and after school program out of my home. My question is....Because I will be a Certified Ece ( I do plan on enrolling with the ECE college) I have First Aid (c.p.r, and defibrillator use) and police clearances (all information will be up to date and on display for parents to see) I also plan to have an "Educational standing", meaning if the child is struggling with school subjects, my focus would be to try to help them whether through a hands on approach ( at the table, one on one) or through "play to learn", Which is based on learning the child's interest and combining it with the work to encourage them more. Anyhow, I am wondering if these approaches will allow me to charge my clients more then an "Average" before and after school program? also, should I license my program or go unlicensed?
Thanks in advance for any advice!!

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Not always. ECE not always important to home day care. Lot of carer I know have ECE or other degree, some none. Fee tend to be based on local market more than anything. Experience running dayhome matter to lots vs new Mom on mat leave or just setting up to be home with own child. One lady in this area was child psychologist who worked with police for child abuse cases and witness statement but having own child she found too hard. She charge same as other with no specialist degree. Lot of Elementary school teachers now also day care provider.

Some parent might consider it added bonus but few like pay premium rate for it.

Also, most provider locally have police check, vulnerable sector check, day care insurance, infant CPR, first aid. This basic expectation of many parent.

All these things are desirable to parent but it simply make your service more attractive compared to others. It not translate to more fees usually.

Licensed or unlicensed mean different thing in different provinces. Both tend to have regulations to follow. Check your provincial rules before decide.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Child care is big expense for family. Much as most parent want to give child best start, they have budget constraint. Few parent willing to pay above market value for added value skills much like few parent willing pay for private school although they see benefit of it.

School age children in before after school program is limited hour child care. Prices for this only vary by couple dollar in geographical area. Usually higher pricing is due to longer hours care available.

If you need charge above average for a service, then you must be in high demand area offering sought after service. None of elements you mention make your service unique. And ECE, police check, first aid, all pretty standard offerings.

For every BAS carer you know about in your area, there are at least double that number. Many don't need advertise, many work under table for cash. This harsh reality. When parent want to stay home or already home but need extra income, this is first method many consider.

Some try and realize it not for them. Many do child care for several year. It very saturated market in most places. Extra services and skill set rarely equate to being able charge higher rate. More often it mean places are filled and not sitting empty.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I think the more experience and schooling you have that directly applies to Childcare the more you will be able to charge. Now maybe not $5+ more but I think $2-$5/day more is reasonable and justified.

I also left centre care due to issues I had with the way they operated and I started at $2-$5 more than the average hdc in my area. I've since increased it another $2 and I'm noticing more and more hdc's are charging my old rate and a handful are even charging more than me now so I think it benefited us all. Daycare fee's are one service that very very rarely increase but when a hdc increases it usually prompts others in the area to as well which I view as a good thing.

Don't overprice yourself though, stay within a reasonable amount and you will do fine! Good luck

[playfelt]

In most areas it won't get you any more money but you might be able to fill spaces faster. The reality is for the work we do an ECE degree is not necessary and some of the best providers have only the experience they learned being a mom to fall back on.

[playfelt]

As to your other questions - school age care is one of the hardest groups to get extra money out of the parents as they don't want to pay more than the school programs. Also kids who have been in school all day and especially one that struggled all day is not going to want to sit down and do more work - they need to eat a snack and move their muscles. If you are asking about being licensed going to assume you don't live in Ontario since a home daycare can not be licensed in Ontario so on that you would have to check with your province/city to find out what the rules are about the ages and number of children you can have in care.

[TinyTwigs]

Of course! I am a certified Montessori teacher. I also have a background in ECE and due to this I charge more. Many parents message me asking if I have ECE someone even asked if my program was Montessori certified lol I run my program out of an apartment and have an easier time filling my spot vs many of my friends that run a home daycare in a house bc of my education. Parents often tell me they are please with my education bc they can tell this is my passion even though I just opened. People ask me why my rates are higher and I let them know that I am a certified teacher and due this I charge more and no one has ever complained.

[bright sparks]

I think its one thing charging an additional couple dollars per day for full day care, but for before and after care, take it from those who have been in the game for years, very few parents will be prepared to pay the extra. Additionally, with the best will in the world, you aren't going to be able to work one on one with a struggling student when you have four others to attend to if you are going to provide an equal program to each. It's one thing setting them up with tasks, but you aren't going to be able to give the attention to one child enough to actually help them get over their struggles without neglecting the others....I don't mean that to be awful either, just that your attention will be more focused on one vs all of them. As someone else said too, kids won't be up to much post school day, depending on the child maybe they will sit down and do homework, depends on age too, but in all likelihood, they will want some good old fashioned fun and gross motor activities. That would be a lot of fun for the kids to have some sort of structured before and after school program, but none of that requires an ECE background, just good research skills and planning ahead of time, and doesn't justify a higher rate I don't believe. Also competing with other after school programs for rate will be tricky. These kids are with you 2-4 hours a day. Parents just want them to be happy and safe and I find it highly unlikely that paying more for homework help would make them pay more. School aged kids wish list for parents is not the same as an infant or preschooler spending 10 hours a day in your care.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I think it all depends on your area. Here, b and a care can be hard to come by as the Y programs in the schools fill up fast!

I also think if you advertise as a hdc that helps with homework and small group attention with problem areas, some parents will be up for this for sure!!! By the time parents get off work, pick up kids, make supper, extra curricular activities, family time etc there just isn't a lot of extra time for homework. If this can be done or at least started at dc than that's a huge help to some parents!!

[Lee-Bee]

I charged a lot more because I have my ECE. my teaching degree and have the facilities and programming to justify it. BUT I will note from experience that the parents that are willing to charge more for care because of experience and education are the first time parents of a child coming off maternity leave. Once the children have been in group care for a while the parents are potentially less willing to pay more as they are accustomed to leaving their child in someone else's care. When you get the families coming off maternity leave they are still emotional, new to leaving their child and you are pulling at their heart strings!

By school age I don't see that many families seeking out to pay more. Their children are older, can communicate any concerns with their parents and need less care. Their parents want a safe, happy environment but they aren't necessarily seeking to pay more for peace of mind.