I’m in Ontario as well. I don’t have clients leaving unless they are headed to kindergarten. But I do find it next to impossible to find clients needing care for a child over 2 years old, unless there is a one year old sibling needing care. Most parents get settled somewhere after maternity leave, and only leave if they are unhappy with a setting, or have a move or change in job.
I’ve had an over 2 years spot open for 6 months and can’t fill it to save my life. All the requests are for babies. My prices are much lower than centres in my area, but there really is limited demand for the “over 2’s”. I know of several providers in my area that have been over ratio for the under 2s and had an overlap for a few months of an extra 1 year old, just to keep their spots filled. I would never in a million years resort to that illegal behaviour, but that’s how desperate providers are getting around here(Halton Ontario). I really don’t have any words of wisdom, as I’ve tried it all, and still have space open for an older child. We are surrounded by many new for-profit centres, and people are willing to pay those ridiculously high fees for those services. Generally the licensed centres are so plentiful and home providers are around every corner here. I find there are 2 extremes around here: either they will pay $1700 a month for 1 spot at a centre, or they want the cheapest home daycare regardless of quality. I’m ECE and run a quality program, but many parents don’t care, they want the cheapest price at the end of the day.