Inconsistent drop off times

[Spixie33]

I have this issue too but I don't mind late drop offs.

All the parents are told clearly what times we are at the bus stop and everyone seems good at working around to either meet us at the bus stop, come before or after so it is no big deal.
If a parent wants to delay the day - it is better for me. I can get more stuff done before they come so I don't mind.

Sometimes the child will miss a craft or a trip to the park but there is always another day.
I am fully supportive of parents spending as much time as they want with their kids...it works out well for everyone
I like the idea of leaving a note on the door and letting the parent know where to find you if they don't show up...or have the parent call you.

I have one family call me almost every morning to tell me whether they will be late or meeting me at the bus because their mornings are flexible. I don't sweat it. communication is key and I appreciate that they update me so I don't have to wonder.

That said....one of the most annoying things I have found is that when you sign a new family they get PANICKED reading about late charges in the contract so they write down a really early drop off (just in case they need to drop off early) and then put the latest possible drop off. I think the parents want to cover their bases and say "well I wrote it in my contract'. So I have one parent who wrote an 8 am drop off and an 5:45 pick up. The actual drop off since the last 8 months has always been 8:30 and the pick up at approx 5. It seems all the parents do this just to avoid me complaining about lateness or being charged. So for instance this family can pick up at 5:45 without me being able to say anything because that is what they wrote and signed with me at registration. I basically have to look at the 5 pm pickup as just something I can be happy with when it happens 99.9% of the time.

[Emilys4Guppies]

I have this issue too but I don't mind late drop offs.

All the parents are told clearly what times we are at the bus stop and everyone seems good at working around to either meet us at the bus stop, come before or after so it is no big deal.
If a parent wants to delay the day - it is better for me. I can get more stuff done before they come so I don't mind.

Sometimes the child will miss a craft or a trip to the park but there is always another day.
I am fully supportive of parents spending as much time as they want with their kids...it works out well for everyone
I like the idea of leaving a note on the door and letting the parent know where to find you if they don't show up...or have the parent call you.

I have one family call me almost every morning to tell me whether they will be late or meeting me at the bus because their mornings are flexible. I don't sweat it. communication is key and I appreciate that they update me so I don't have to wonder.

That said....one of the most annoying things I have found is that when you sign a new family they get PANICKED reading about late charges in the contract so they write down a really early drop off (just in case they need to drop off early) and then put the latest possible drop off. I think the parents want to cover their bases and say "well I wrote it in my contract'. So I have one parent who wrote an 8 am drop off and an 5:45 pick up. The actual drop off since the last 8 months has always been 8:30 and the pick up at approx 5. It seems all the parents do this just to avoid me complaining about lateness or being charged. So for instance this family can pick up at 5:45 without me being able to say anything because that is what they wrote and signed with me at registration. I basically have to look at the 5 pm pickup as just something I can be happy with when it happens 99.9% of the time.

My families have contracted hours too. Instead of letting them fill in the times needed I get some info from them and fill in the times myself. I find out when each of them gets off work and where they work. For example, I have a teacher who works literally two blocks away. I know school gets out at 3:10 and she legally has to stay for 15 minutes after the bell. This means that she has a pickup time of 3:45. Enough time to stay after the bell, get her stuff together and come get her child.
I have another family who works in our local shift-work plant. I know the commute there is barely 15 minutes and it goes against rush hour traffic. So DCM gets out of work at 3pm. Her pickup time is 3:30. She tried to set it at 5pm but I refuse to work so others can live...kwim? She wanted to go to the gym daily. I provide care so that families can work, and that's what I'm comfortable with. I understand that others don't care what their DCFs do so long as they are paid, but I care. I don't mind if they are sick and want time to sleep...or if they took the day off for an appointment and used it for some 'me' time too. I do mind if that's a daily thing though and won't allow for it in my contract.