Before and after school only

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I am not school age child only but a lot of provider near me are. They use a few models depending which best suit their situation.

First should say that here, own children are counted in ratios only if actually in premises. This mean family child who in Elementary grade not count in school hour but do count if home for school vacations or snow days. I would also check your limits for numbers - some province allow extra children if offering only school age care but I think the provinces that do this, would limit you to the lower number due to age of own child.

What seem to happen here -

1) Provider is just before and/or after school care. No availability for care in Summer, Christmas, snow day, training days. i.e. if the school is closed to students, then no day care is available. This would basically follow the school schedule. Client not pay for summer month but sometimes required pay for Christmas break even though closed. These provider typically do not have day off in contract and take their vacation during school closure time and make their personal appointment during lesson time before child return end of school day.

2) Slight change to above but instead of following the school schedule, it follow teacher schedule. This slightly different because there are some day when school is closed to students but open to staff for routine staff development. Again, no care in school vacation or snow days - if teacher not required to physically be at work, then day care not open.

3) Others offer all day care for school vacation dates and snow days and all days when school closed. This offered at higher full day rate. This might not be available to all client because household children home from school and taking a space. Lot provider try to get school board employee for some of their space knowing that teacher prefer no pay no care in summer which free up space for provider child.

[Lee-Bee]

If you choose to do this route I would consider putting in your contract that all children bring their snacks from home. It will cost a fortune to feed a troop of school-agers that have been in school all day.

While it will be easier to care for just school-agers (the walk to and from is easier without a bunch of toddlers). They are costly. Art supplies, food, etc add up in the quantity they use.