[QUOTE]I have in my handbook that to use their unpaid 2 week vacation time I have to be given a minimum of 2 weeks notice.*/QUOTE]

Hi, I'm a bit confused. You explained that you're open just few month's open. My humble sugestion would be, to review your handbook.

Does it means that every family you have in care has to let you know with just two weeks in advance in whatever date is their choise? Meaning that if you're full house five families in care you have 5 potential vacation dates? (That would not allow you to have your own vacation time and honestly in this field of work you need your vacation time. I have in my contract that my daycare closes two weeks in the summer (dates to be disclosed by January so, they have time to arrange their own vac. Time the same dates or other options) I haven't encountered any issues with that yet, actually parents are grateful in knowing this way ahead so, we all take a break.

Usually by doing so, they must likely won't need or use other care.

This could get very confusing in terms of payments, as payments are made every 2 weeks to cover the following 2 weeks of care.*
My system works differently. But, Analizing yours. You're right it can get confusing. But, this won't be the first time your encounter this kind of situation. You'll learn as challenges come. You'll have parents part time (sometimes because of mat leave or just families that need your support, etc), you'll also have children growing and when they leave going to school their transition is not right away sometimes takes two weeks of only two days or three days etc. Obviously, it will be up to you to accept those situations or not. I had faced all these situations (part timers, school ages, preschools, etc) I basically did it to built a reputation the more people knew my services the better for me.

My only way to organize was to record the days in a calendar every day. And send my invoice with the total of used days and that was it. Now it is even easier it is all done electronically.

If you get payment in advance you can balance it with your calendar and tell them which days are covered and which days aren't. Keep your calendar visual for them to see it too. I use to send a note like this:

Ex. Your #.....cheque dated....... has covered those dates ..........of the .........month.


And I will use the same format and just send it by email as soon as they reply it was a confirmation. This would also help those parents to know how many more days they have covered or if they need to send another cheque. The calendar made it easy even for my accounts.

I hope it helps;0)