Presenting Your Parent Handbook Policies?
I have started to compile my 'Parent Handbook' with policies and contracts, but I'm wondering how to present all of this information to future clients. There are already so many pages and I'm far from completion.
How do you present your policies and contracts to parents? Do you go page by page orally, send it via email for them to read, sit down and have them read it right there themselves, or something entirely different? I am thinking that oral presentation might be best, so they know what they are getting into to prevent conflict in the future. Then again I am thinking that oral presentation might cause them to zone out and get annoyed with the sheer length of pages. What do you do? |
My plans are to give them a copy when they first contact me, either via email or in person, and let them read it at home. At interview time, I will discuss the key points and make sure to remind them that signing the contract means they agree with all terms whether they read them or not.
As many here do, with a big handbook, you want it divided into indexed sections, so if parents don't want to read it all, they can at least read what they think is relevant. |
Still new to this, but I have them online. One of my first questions when I'm contacted is "Were you able to look over the handbook?". I ask this before anything else and if they haven't I direct them to it, or offer to email it to them. ("Please take a moment to look over the handbook. It will give you an idea of what to expect and what my expectations are. If you're still interested please get back with me and we'll set up an interview".) I think this has netted me fewer interviews, but I feel like the ones that follow through know what they're getting into are actually interested rather than just browsing.
My worst interview so far was the ONE time I did not do this beforehand, and they showed up expecting something completely different than what I was willing offer (picking and choosing days, late evening hours on last minute notice, etc...). Then I go over the highlights during the interview, and touch on any areas that I feel need reiterating for that particular family. So far its netted me some awesome families and only one awful interview. |
I have mine posted on my website. I don't go over every last detail just the most important ones like
Payment expectations Hours they will attend Illness policy Termination Two week trial Deposit requirements No medication policy Communication Our preschool program schedule Immunizations List of daycare closing dates Sample menu of our meal program Everything else is in my PHB that is posted online. |
During an interview, I go over the most important parts of the handbook (payment schedule, illness policy, hours, why I'm awesome, etc) and I answer any questions. At the end of the interview, I give them their own copy to take home and go over before contacting me again (assuming they do). The handbook is longer and more detailed than the information I give them during an interview.
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During the interview I give parents a copy of my handbook to read through. I go over the policies I want to highlight (illness, payments, termination, etc) and they can ask questions or clarifications.
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Originally Posted by Unregistered: I would LOVE to create an online presence for all of this stuff to be accessible but it would require upkeep, consistency and time. None of which I have or am good at. :o |
Originally Posted by Josiegirl: Originally Posted by Josiegirl: |
I have a contract and handbook - two separate documents.
I don't go over my handbook it is just on the private parent only site for them to read and to reference. My contract is detailed and has my most important policies - they have to initial each item in the contract and sign it prior to enrollment. I tend to go over my contract or answer questions on that but I will answer questions on the handbook if they ask. |
Originally Posted by CityGarden: I have a statement on my contract that says 'I have read the handbook and will abide by the policies' or something similar to that. |
I expect adults to be adults and review paperwork before saying they agree to it. Therefore, I do not read parents anything.
I provide the handbook via e-mail before the interview and ask them to read through it in its entirety. At the interview, I directly ask them if they read through it and if they have any questions. If they enroll, they sign a paper stating that they have read the parent handbook and agree to abide by its policies. My handbook is lengthy. :) |
Originally Posted by Josiegirl: |
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist: Originally Posted by Josiegirl: |
Originally Posted by CityGarden: |
Since there is so much information in the handbook, what things do you all include in the contract itself?
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Originally Posted by debbiedoeszip: |
Originally Posted by dreamer: |
Originally Posted by dreamer: When enforcing your contract legally or via the courts, they are only concerned about the financial information. Courts won't help or support you in enforcing your closing time or your meal routines/rules. Tom Copeland has a book called "Family Child Care Contracts and Policies" that discusses the difference as well as what items should be in writing in which document. |
Originally Posted by daycare: |
A handbook would contain procedures, rules, regulations, anything about your services that applies to all families. The contract, like BC said, would be the finances, and would also be where you can specify any operating information that is different between families.
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My handbook is 58 pages - WAY too long to read with the parent during an interview. I also have all the policies on my website, but not in the same format as the Handbook.
I email a copy of the Handbook before the interview so they can look it over and bring any questions with them. I also have all policies regarding time and money in the contract, with places for them to initial that they read the policies and agree to follow them, that I'm a mandated reporter, and that I will report unsafe transportation circumstances to the police. |
Thank you Ariana, BlackCat31 and Mike for your answers! Reading this thread is really helping me a lot.
Wow, 58 pages! :eek: you all make me wonder what's missing from what I've written so far! |
Originally Posted by dreamer: |
Originally Posted by dreamer: I essentially let my website do the marketing for me lol |
I redid mine last year and am finding I need to redo again.:rolleyes: The major problem is parents either read it and forget or read it and ignore. So I end up sending home reminders A LOT. There has got to be a better way. I know parents have a lot going on and we are just one more entity for them to keep straight in their lives. My policies aren't that overly long so not difficult to read through and understand. :rolleyes:
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Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist: |
I have a folder with my handbook, info about myself, and other selling points. I let the parents look through it on their own for a few minutes before or after I visit with the child, depending on the child. Then we sit down and read through it. I skim over the less important common sense parts. Because my handbook is so long I do not give copies to everyone. But I do give a one page overview of the important policies as well as a page for them to write notes or questions they had. I do not give out the full handbook until they decide to enroll and have made a payment towards the deposit.
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